Theatre is one of those arts or fields that can be used for cross-curricular connections of almost all subjects in the school program, as the play itself represents the foundation of learning and thus enables children to learn in a comprehensive, conducive to real-life application, and more effective way. When learning through theatre, we can employ traditional theatrical forms with actors or puppets, bringing characters and objects to life and assigning them personalities. Theatre methods facilitate retention and foster autonomy of thought and critical analysis. The teacher’s role is pivotal in this process, as their guidance significantly contributes to the meaning and understanding of the subject matter.
Drama as a teaching tool does not only address drama as a theatrical genre or literary text, but primarily addresses dramatic competence as an anthropological characteristic of every human being. A distinctive feature of creative drama is the use of dramatic techniques, specifically the use of methods of expression in which real or imaginary events, beings, objects, phenomena, and relationships are presented through acted roles and situations. The ultimate goal of creative drama is to transform passive reception into experiential engagement.
Many developmental psychologists argue that play is the central activity for a child's healthy development. Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget, renowned for his theory of cognitive development in children, distinguishes three fundamental forms: play or practice, symbolic play, and play with rules. Symbolic play most closely parallels the realm of theatre, as it operates on both the subconscious and conscious levels, as well as the symbolic level, which is characteristic of the theatrical mechanism. Symbolic play represents the first abstract activity in an individual's development.
During play, children create symbolic social situations, which allow them to process events from their lives according to their own rules, to refine their understanding of their environment and their position within it.
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