Drama Start! Drama Activities, Plays and Monologues for Young Children, Ages 3-8, July/2011

"Drama Start" is a collection of drama activities, including games, role playing ideas, action poems, plays and monologues, suitable for children between the ages of 3 and 8. It can be used in Early Years’ settings or in primary schools, up to and including second class. This book is also suitable for people working with children in any setting where drama is used such as community groups, out of school care facilities, therapeutic group work and so on. The book is accessible and easy to follow. It is divided into three parts – Drama Games, Plays and Monologues. Each section provides educators/teachers/leaders with a variety of creative and imaginative ideas for stimulating drama activities in many different settings.

Part One: Drama Games. There are nine different categories in this section. . Each category, for example warm-up games, listening games, states the main benefit of the games it features. However some of the games may have more than one benefit. For example, `Fruit Basket is listed as a warm up game but other benefits of this game are listening and observation. The games are clearly set out and the appropriate age group and minimum amount of children needed to participate are listed for each one. The other benefits of playing the game are also stated and detailed instructions are provided, with suggested variations for some of the games. 
Warm-Up Games These games can be used at the beginning of any drama lesson. They help limber the children up and lead them into the next part of the lesson. They are fun and enjoyable. If you are short on time the children can also do them by themselves, in separate group.

About The Author:

Julie Meighan is a lecturer in Drama in Education at the Cork Institute of Technology. She has taught Drama to all age groups and levels. She is also  the author of "Drama Start Two! Plays and Activities for Children (Ages 9-12)" and "Stage Start! 20 Plays for Children".