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Process drama from picture books

 

Process drama is a great way to bring stories to life in the classroom – and to become familiar with the conventions and strategies used in Mantle of the Expert. Picture books provide a wonderful starting point for planning, as they provide many of the ‘raw ingredients’ for successful drama. In this post I share two resources:

The first is a plan adapted from one of the units in the excellent ‘Playing our Stories’ resource (Learning Media 2001 – now sadly out of print). It’s a fairly straightforward drama based on The Lighthouse Keeper’s Rescue by Rhonda and David Armitage. Designed to support for those trying teacher in role and drama conventions for the first time, the plan is fully ‘scripted’ with links to curriculum etc.

Mrs Grinlings problem 2017

The second resource follows on from the first and gives a set of 12 steps to follow to create your own drama using the same structure with a different picture book. This is a framework for planning I developed and trialled with student teachers over many years. It seems to work pretty well, with many fabulous original dramas developed using these steps. An advantage of developing your own drama is you can choose books that suit your context (for example using texts in te reo, or more complex sophisticated picture books for senior students). The same structure could be adapted for other books too, including novels or playtexts.

Creating drama from a picture book 2018

I do hope you find these resources useful. Just to clarify, they are not ‘mantle’ plans in the sense of setting up full-length cross curricula dramatic inquiry … but I hope they may be useful in developing the drama skills needed for mantle teaching.

See other posts on this site for  tips for teaching in role including dealing with uncertainty from participants and the importance of clear signalling.

 

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Mantle of the Expert and the Titanic

Here’s a lovely link to check out. A teacher’s blog about using Mantle of the Expert to explore the history of the Titanic. Teacher Jenny Burrell has included details of her planning, notes on children’s responses and feedback from parents in this blog (from a UK school).  Lots to learn from and enjoy here.

By the way, if any NZ teachers are blogging their work in Mantle this team – do please send the link so we can share yours too!

Click here for linkmantle of ex titanic 005

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City of Light MOTE with Intermediate students

If you only click on one internet link today – make it this one… Luke Willis from Melville Intermediate School (a decile 4 school in Hamilton) is 8 weeks in to his first attempt at Mantle of the Expert. His blog charts the amazing success he has had with these students. The journey has also included an impressive array of ITC – lots to inspire here including the innovative use of iphones and artwork to create animations (screen shot below)

To reach the blog click here 

Thanks, Luke for sharing this.

Screen shot 2013-11-29 at 7.29.50 AM

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Teaching history to year two students through Mantle of the Expert.

This is a really nice video from the UK showing two teachers using MOTE to engage young children in the story of the life of Nelson (a figure from their local history). This is a great example of how MOTE can help children gain factual knowledge through emotional engagement. Bet NZ teachers can think of ways to adapt this concept to teach in depth about our own local historical figures….

Some of you may recognise the male teacher here – he is the lovely Tim Taylor, who was one of the presenters at our 2009 conference. Check out Tim’s use of teacher in role (as a teacher!) and how he uses older children  to help with “assessment”.    View video HERE

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HNS Mantle comes to a close

Just written my final blog post for this year’s mantle at HNS school. Comments from the children include “”I liked getting talked to and talking like an adult” and “I liked being someone else but not at the same time”. Meanwhile the teacher says,  “You should see some of the writing – talk about powerful. You won’t believe some of it is from 10 year old children…”. Check out the whole six week journey by clicking here

Huge thanks to Andy, the school and the students for what has been a fantastic ride… As always so much learned along the way!

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Video from scotland

Here’s a cute video from Holy island school in Scotland, where teachers have been using Mantle of the Expert for some years.

Sound quality is a bit mixed, but it gives some good explanations of MOTE and I love the way the children talk about how much they love this way of learning.

Click here for link 

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Living with wolves – a video about imaginative inquiry in primary classrooms

I hope everyone will take a moment to watch this video. It’s lovely.

Brian Edmiston working with young children in imaginative inquiry / mantle of the expert approach, extending the story of the three pigs into a cross curricula inquiry adventure.

Click here for link 

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Viv’s new blog

Hello all

I’m just about to embark on a six week mantle adventure with five student teachers, 31 children, one visiting PhD student  and a brave teacher (Andy Peart from HNS school). If you’d like to read the blog about our adventures, please visit

http://hnsmantleadventure2013.blogspot.com/2013/07/preplanning.html.

Once you are on the page, you can even subscribe to the blog to get updates in your email… Last year’s blog had 2000+ views – which is a very scary thought but does show that this is a good way to share our work…. Perhaps YOU could think about doing a blog too (and if you have not already checked out Priya’s wonderful blog – there’s a link from the mantle website).

Viv

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Mantle idea from Pam Bowell…

On her recent flying trip to NZ, the lovely Pam Bowell shared a powerpoint all about a process drama / mantle she ran recently in a year 5 class. She has generously agreed to share it here.

Lindisfarne Gospel Project

But wait, there’s more….!

At the Waikato cluster meeting last night, we spent an engaging evening thinking of possible ways to adapt / rework this company, client and commission to suit a New Zealand context. It was a really useful exercise and I am hoping those who attended will respond to this post with some of the ideas we came up with… So check out the powerpoint AND check out the comments below

Over to you team….

 

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Priya’s new mantle with year 4s – follow it on her blog!

Latest from Priya Gain in Wellington. Many of you will have enjoyed her blogs in the past – a great way to share in and learn about a mantle as it unfolds. Here is the information about her latest adventure…. Follow the link and you can sign up to her blog. THANKS Priya….
Just to let you know that I have a new Mantle unit up and running this term with a full Year 4 class.  We are a company called ‘GeoReady’ [based on the real NZ company GeoNet] and our job is to monitor geological hazards and work on the science behind these hazards.  The children wrote the company’s mission statement: ‘when the earth is going crazy we are the experts!’.  All details of the learning journey will be at: www.muritaimantleblog.blogspot.co.nz