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Julie Meighan
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Drama Start: Drama activities, plays and monologues for young children (ages 3 to 8) Kindle Edition

by Julie Meighan (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 89 ratings
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‘Drama Start’ is a collection of drama activities, including games, role playing ideas, action poems, plays and monologues, suitable for children between the ages of 3 and 8. It can be used in Early Years’ settings or in primary schools, up to and including second class. This book is also suitable for people working with children in any setting where drama is used such as community groups, out of school care facilities, therapeutic group work and so on.
The book is accessible and easy to follow. It is divided into three parts – Drama Games, Plays and Monologues. Each section provides educators/teachers/leaders with a variety of creative and imaginative ideas for stimulating drama activities in many different settings.
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  1. Print length
    146 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    December 23, 2013
  5. File size
    331 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From the Author

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Game: Magic Rocks.
Age: 3 years+,
Minimum number of participants: 2
Resources needed: Clear space, a wand (optional).
Other Benefits: To stimulate children's imagination and creativity.
Instructions: Get each child to find a clear space. They must make sure that they are not touching anyone else. The children crouch down on the floor and make a ball shape with their bodies. The teacher explains that all children are magic rocks and that the teacher is a magic wizard. The teacher waves the magic wand and says: "Magic rocks turn into dinosaurs." All the children turn into dinosaurs and move around the room as dinosaurs. The teacher then says: "Magic rocks turn into magic rocks." The children return to their clear spaces and crouch down on the floor again as quickly as possible. The magic wizard can change the magic rocks into anything they want, for example superheroes, animals, people, household items and so on. Variation: The children can take it turns to be the magic wizard.

Game: Octopus
Age: 4 years +
Minimum number of participants: 3
Resources needed: Clear space.
Other Benefits: This game can be used to work on co-operation and teamwork skills.
Instructions: One child is chosen or volunteers to be the octopus and stands in the middle of the clear space. The rest of the children should line up along one side of the space. When the octopus shouts out "Octopus!" the other children have to run past the octopus and try to reach the other side without being caught. Children that are caught become part of the octopus's arms. They are not allowed to let go of each other's hands. Only the children at the ends of the octopus's arms can catch people. As the game progresses, the octopus becomes longer and longer. The game becomes more difficult, as more and more children become part of the octopus's arms. It ends when all the children are caught.

Game: Prison Break
Age: 4 years +
Minimum number of participants: 3
Resources needed: Clear space.
Other Benefits: This is a warm up game that children really enjoy. It also can be used to improve listening and co-ordination skills.
Instructions: Children all line up on one side of the clear space. One student is chosen, or volunteers, to be the guard on duty and stands in the centre of the room. The rest of the children are prisoners. When the guard shouts out "Prison break!" all the prisoners must run to the other side of the space. If the guard catches a prisoner they also become a guard. Eventually there will be more guards then prisoners. The last prisoner becomes the first guard on duty for the next game.

Game: Fruit Basket
Age: 4 years+
Minimum number of participants: 7
Resources needed: Clear space and a chair for each student - if you do not have chairs you can use sheets of paper or cushions.
Other Benefits: This is a well-known game which can also be used very effectively as a listening game or an observation game.
Instructions: All the children sit in circle on a chair or a cushion. The teacher chooses three different fruits and goes around the circle giving each person the name of a fruit, in a particular order, for example, apple, orange, banana. A child is then chosen, or volunteers, to go into the centre of the circle. His/Her chair is taken away. The child in the centre calls out the name of one of the three fruits. If the child in the centre says apple then all the apples change place, if s/he says banana, all the bananas change place and if s/he says orange, all the oranges change places. If s/he says fruit basket then everyone changes places. The child who is left without a chair goes into the centre for the next round.
Variations: There are lots of variations to this game and you can change the names to go with a specific theme. Fruit basket - apple, orange, and banana -could be replaced by: Barnyard - chicken, pig and cow, Zoo - elephant, giraffe and tiger, Circus - clown, ringmaster and acrobat, Ocean - fish, mermaid and shark.

From the Inside Flap

Part One: Drama Games. There are nine different categories in this section. . Each category, for example warm-up games, listening games, states the main benefit of the games it features. However some of the games may have more than one benefit. For example, `Fruit Basket is listed as a warm up game but other benefits of this game are listening and observation. The games are clearly set out and the appropriate age group and minimum amount of children needed to participate are listed for each one. The other benefits of playing the game are also stated and detailed instructions are provided, with suggested variations for some of the games.
Warm-Up Games These games can be used at the beginning of any drama lesson. They help limber the children up and lead them into the next part of the lesson. They are fun and enjoyable. If you are short on time the children can also do them by themselves, in separate groups.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0052MUG7I
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ JemBooks (December 23, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 23, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 331 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 146 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 89 ratings

About the author

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Julie Meighan

Julie Meighan

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Julie Meighan is a play therapist, lecturer, author, and blogger based in Cork, Ireland. She is currently a lecturer at Munster Technological University, where she teaches on the Early Years programme. With a deep passion for creativity and the arts, Julie runs a successful educational blog at https://dramastartbooks.com, where she shares her expertise on all aspects of creative arts.

Julie is also a prolific author and has written numerous books on drama, many of which have been translated into several languages. Her books have gained worldwide recognition and have been a valuable resource for teachers, parents, and students alike.

In addition to her work as an author and blogger, Julie has delivered workshops and training to a wide variety of academic and professional organizations worldwide. Her extensive experience in the field of play therapy and creative arts has made her a sought-after speaker and trainer, and her workshops are known for their practical and engaging approach.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
89 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

pmchugh
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Resource
Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2011
Verified Purchase
I bought this book a week ago as I was looking for some drama ideas to use in my class. Having tried out the activities with my students, I have found it an excellent resource and I'm delighted I found it. The activities are divided by objectives that focus on things like teamwork, listening, communication etc.., All the activities are very clearly laid out and very easy to follow, There is another section devoted to plays that can be used with young children - they include "The Gingerbread Man" and "The Lion and the Mouse". The plays are simple and they give clear stage instructions. If you are a new teacher or just looking for new and imaginative ideas to use in your class this book is a must.
8 people found this helpful
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B
5.0 out of 5 stars I owe a lot to Julie - couldn't be without her books.
Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2017
Verified Purchase
As a Speech and Drama teacher all of Julie's books are an absolutely essential part of my kit. Honestly don't know what I would do without them to plan my classes and summer camps. Highly recommend any from the series and in fact not just for teavchers - ideal for parents of young children too for play dates and parties. Definitely 5 stars and highly recommended.
One person found this helpful
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Jenny
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2016
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Lots of interesting activities, used this in my theatre class at the local YMCA.
One person found this helpful
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P. DEHART
5.0 out of 5 stars Great resource for teachers!
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2013
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This is a wonderful book with great drama games and activities for younger children. This is my go-to book when creating my drama lesson plan. My students love the games and especially liked acting out The Hungry Tree. They ask to go on this "adventure" often! I hope the author includes more stories like this one in her next book. This really encourages their imaginations and gets them moving! Highly recommend!
3 people found this helpful
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R. Joseph
5.0 out of 5 stars Great guide
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2013
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Having been into drama at a semi professional level and not being involved now I was asked to undertake a preschool group for drama classes. Not having a clue where to start, I have checked available material and chose this book. No regret!!! The activities are simple but on point with the lessons and the detailed description really helps with setting up and preparing for the sessions.
3 people found this helpful
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Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars Good resources, needs more drama
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2016
Verified Purchase
This is one of the only drama activity books I found that caters to such young ages, and I was very excited when I found it. 3-8 is a huge age gap, developmentally, so some of the older students would definitely be bored with a number of the games. In the same respect, the plays in the book would only work with the older ages as many 3-5 year olds can't read.

Finally, some of the games feel like they're just activities, not really related to drama. Overall, I enjoy this book, and do reference it for the classes I teach, but I feel that it's lacking a bit.
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sarah
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful teaching resource!
Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2016
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Drama Start! is a wonderful teaching resource. As a drama educator for ages 4-18, I cannot tell you how helpful Julie Meighan's books are. I've used Drama Start! with my students ages 4-7, and the material, games, plays, and monologues have been appropriate and engaging. Thanks again!
One person found this helpful
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Cecelia Talley
5.0 out of 5 stars I love this book
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2017
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I love this book! I teach drama to preschoolers through 18-year-olds and have found games in this book to play with any age group. It is definitely used most in my preschool-lower elementary aged classes. A great resource.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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DN PERKS
5.0 out of 5 stars Handy dip in book for ideas and inspiration
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 29, 2019
Verified Purchase
Always tricky teaching very young children Drama. Ideas have to be stepped, simplified, boiled down but still need a little level of stretch and ambition so the students can feel they are having fun ( and quietly- or more likely noisily) progressing. This book is a great example of a handy dip in guide to a range of activities all very well explained and categorised. There are many ideas, some familiar, some less so explained in a brief and concise way for the busy teacher with examples and some great ideas for using text and stories as well as games.In this sense it fulfils its age range on the front. A very useful book to which I find myself coming back to time and time again.
One person found this helpful
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Cliente Amazon
2.0 out of 5 stars Duplicado el contenido en los dos libros que pedí.
Reviewed in Spain on January 12, 2018
Verified Purchase
Al no tener acceso al índice del libro, pedí dos y más de la mitad de cada libro, son las mismas obras y los mismos juegos, por lo que, no creo que vuelva a arriesgarme comprando este tipo de libros a través de Amazon.
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Chickenlittledoesshopping
5.0 out of 5 stars Great
Reviewed in Australia on April 9, 2020
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Simple to follow. Lots of great ideas - many I'm already using, but its actually good to just jog your memory and also revamp with a few new ideas!
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Vijayalakshmi
1.0 out of 5 stars all plays in the description not present in the kindle version of the book. DONT RECOMMEND
Reviewed in India on April 16, 2015
Verified Purchase
the kindle version didn't have stories like how the zebra got its stripes and the chinese new year.
I want to return this book and get back a refund.
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T.D
5.0 out of 5 stars Packed full of ideas
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 30, 2016
Verified Purchase
I home educate my 5children and we have been looking at drama as part of our learning. After running out of my own ideas during roleplay I read this book andwill have soany ideas for the next year or more!

For us the games that are for larger numbers of people arent suitable but will be great used in larger groups. Some great games are included that I will make use of regularly even just as a family fun energy boost. The plays are great and such good variety as are the action poems and monologues . There really is liads to choose from so wether in a classroom setting, social club setting or simply to use at home this book will not dissapoint and is certain to entertain all ages and abilities! I will be buying the other books available from this author
One person found this helpful
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