Play-Making and Plays: The Dramatic Impulse and Its Educative Use in the Elementary and Secondary School

"Play-Making and Plays: The Dramatic Impulse and Its Educative Use in the Elementary and Secondary School" is a comprehensive exploration of the pedagogical power of drama and theatrical production in the lives of children and adolescents. Written by John Merrill and Martha Fleming, this work delves into the "dramatic impulse" inherent in young people and provides a detailed theoretical and practical framework for its cultivation within the school environment.

The text examines how play-making serves as a vital tool for creative expression, language development, and social cooperation. It offers practical guidance on selecting appropriate material, the process of dramatization, and the technical aspects of staging plays within the classroom and school theater. By addressing both the elementary and secondary levels, the authors illustrate how dramatic work evolves alongside the student's cognitive and emotional growth. This volume remains a significant resource for educators, theater practitioners, and students of pedagogy interested in the foundations of creative dramatics. It underscores the belief that the arts are not merely extracurricular, but essential to a well-rounded and effective education, fostering both individual imagination and collective participation through the magic of the stage.

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