Drama
We place a lot of emphasis on drama throughout our school. All children receive weekly drama tuition. Children thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to engage in a wide variety of activities.
At Foundation Stage (Primary 1 & 2)
Drama enables pupils to express their thoughts, ideas and feelings in a safe environment.
Through imaginative play, it helps them to develop their creativity and extend their learning.
This dramatic play includes taking part in a range of games and strategies.
As they progress, pupils begin to negotiate roles, agree rules and act out scenarios. Eventually they are able to adopt and sustain a role using both verbal and non-verbal language.
Teacher assessment is an integral part of the pupils’ learning process. It allows you to create a comprehensive picture of each pupil’s strengths and areas for development. This gives you a profile to build on and a basis for future planning.
At Key Stage 1 (Primary 3 & 4)
Drama enables pupils to develop their understanding of the world. They have opportunities to engage in a range of creative and imaginative role play situations, on their own and with others.
Through dramatic activities, pupils can explore a range of cultural and human issues, share ideas and learn to respond to others and to the teacher in role. They are able to use hot seating, tableau and freeze frame, and develop dramatic skills to help them make meaning.
This may lead to performance within the classroom.
At Key Stage 2 ( Primary 5 & 6 & 7)
Drama enables pupils to negotiate situations both in and out of role. By engaging in a range of dramatic activities, they develop their understanding of the world.
Using creative and imaginative role play situations, pupils can explore their own and others’ feelings about a range of cultural and human issues. They learn to employ the strategies of hot seating, tableau, freeze frame, thought tracking and conscience alley.
By exploring voice, movement, gesture and facial expression, they develop their dramatic skills. They learn to make meaning clear for themselves, and perhaps for an audience – such as their peers – as well.
We are particularly proud of the strong drama tradition of public performances that has been established in
In recent times we have performed whole school productions in CRAIC Theatre Coalisland, to packed audiences.
Examples of recent productions include
- ‘Hansel & Gretel’
- ‘Puss N Boots’
- ‘The North Pole Goes Rock N Roll’
In St Columcille’s Church pupils have performed
- Christmas Carol Services
- ‘A Christmas Praise’
- ‘Christmas Wonder’
We witness children developing in confidence throughout their primary school years.This is something we are extremely proud of. Participation in such projects is of tremendous benefit to children across all areas of the curriculum.