Drama and Language Arts

Derek Munson (2000). Enemy Pie [Picture Book]. Retrieved from
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/103814.Enemy_Pie

My peers presented a series of really great strategies this week regarding how we can incorporate drama and language arts. They used the picture book "Enemy Pie", which I think is an incredibly great and effective book in helping students think critically about how they treat those that they consider their enemies. Although my peers shared some really great activities, the activities that resonated with me the most were the flash forward and flash back activities because I really feel like they are very strong and effective activities to integrate with language arts. These activities require students to utilize comprehension strategies of making predictions, reading between the lines, and questioning, but they provide a fun and engaging way for students to make such connections. This book and these strategies are definitely something that I can see myself implementing into my future classrooms.

Another activity that we did in class this week was a role play activity, where we were grouped into different roles and we were tasked with creating a budget plan for how to solve an issue with polar bears in role of our characters. This activity required us to research polar bears by reading books and I found the role play to be an effective way to give meaning to our research and to promote motivation. I believe that students will be more likely to engage with learning and reading if it is given purpose and meaning and this activity does such that. In addition, I appreciate how this activity incorporates not only drama and language arts, but also math, social studies, and science. Integrated lessons like this can be a great way for students to learn the various subjects and understand how they interact with one another.

Polar Bear [Clipart]. Retrieved from http://www.nextreflexdc.com/polar-bear-
clip-art/polar-bear-clip-art-art-polar-bear-clipart-clipart-kid-clipartix-templates/