Dramatization

Meaning: Acting is a wonderful way of learning in which w children engage in creative

make-believe acting, and learn what teacher can teach. Drama, is a living experience, creation
experience, of human relationships, of people and of character o situations, stories and
emotions. It helps the child to expand the boundaries of his life space. It enables him to
express his imagina- tions. It helps him to make-believe his ideas, his concepts and his
feelings about events and happenings of the days gone by.

Objectives of Dramatization

1. To help initiate a problem.

2. To prove effective tools for evaluating the results of instruction in social studies,

3. To be used as a tool of evaluation. Histrionics make a galaxy of learnings observable.

They reveal the degree to which children are internalising the knowledge they are acquiring.

Forms of Dramatization

1. The Play: Carefully rehearsed by school children or adults, play is staged using proper
costumes and stage-setting. As every participant memorises his or her predetermined part in
the play and performs accordingly. Plays develop the personality of the pupils and help them
in acquiring information. Plays make social studies lively and interesting. They may be
selected from the writings of reputed authors. The pupils should cooperate in designing the
scenes and costumes and lead them to a study of original sources. After the plays have been
staged, there should be follow-up work in the class. The class may judge the authenticity of
the subject-matter of the drama. They may also summarise information gathered from the
drama.

2. The Pageant: The pageant gives more importance to setting and action and less to speed.
In pageant, persons appear in proper dresses and make-up and parade before the audience.
The parade tells its own story. For example, ambassadors coming to India from different
countries may appear in a chronological sequence, with a standard bearer carrying a poster in
bold letters with the basic information regarding the country. There may be background
music or song appropriate to the occasion to make the pageant more intorest- Sometimes
instead of dresses and make up, only, posters are hung around the necks of pupils to indicate
the personalities they represent. Topics like England and France under different rulers, Gupta
empire under different emperors, religions of the world, people Iiving in different regions,
etc. may form the subject-matter for pageants Advantages () Pageants provide a lot of
information in an interesting form thin a comparatively short time. (0)Pageants are helpful in
revision work. ()Pageants can be presented after the study of a topic has been completed.
Sound and Light Spectacles. A recent development of the pageant is exemplified by the
"Sound and Light" spectacles presented with modern techniques of lighting and display with
events presented in sites, buildings and gardens of archaeoligical interest. While the dramatic
recitation of text is accompanied by music and sound, changing light effects emphasise the
building or site. For example, light and sound programmes on the History of the Red Fort,
Amritsar Sifti Da Ghar, Anarkali, story of Taj Mahal etc., provide unforgettable
dramatisations of events.

Techniques used in these presentations may be used in a simplified form to classroom

productions on special occasions

Limitations

1. Pageants are not a part of the everyday classroom programme as they require a great deal
of labour and money.

2. Pageants are rather inflexible.

3. The Pantomime: Participants express themselvos through only bodily actions in a

pantomime usually to the accompaniment of music. Announcement is not made regarding
what is being presented. Pantomiming does not require rehearsals, costuming or staging It
may be performed in any classroom and in leaming situations. It is particularly valuable for
shy children.

4. The Tableau: Tableau is a play acted without words. Either as individuals or us groups,
the students try to represent some scene by silent motionless posing. Very effective in
representing an emotional theme, it is also presented generally without any announcement.
The audience has to guess what is being presented. For example: () At the background of a
world of misery, Gautam Buddha and his teachings may be shown as appearing like a light.
(i) In the midst of communal riots, Jawahar Lal Nehru may be represented as the guardian
angel. Tableaux may be arranged on topics as First Indian War of Independence 1957,
Declaration of Indian Independence on 15th August 1947, speech by Jawahar Lal Nehru on
the question of India's freedom and the need to preserve the unity of the Indian nation etc. As
the tableau is an acted play without words, attention should be paid to costumes and scenery.
Well-prepared and presented occasionally, tableau can be of much value as an aid to teaching
social studies.

5. Puppetry: It is a specialized form of dramatisation ordinarily employing doll-like figures of

human or animal forms. The puppets may be mechanically operated or they can be operated
by h the help of strings. The operator himself speaks for the puppet in different tones and
different play roles.

Forms of Puppetry

(i) Hand Puppetry :Puppets are simpler to make and operate. They ar held and moved by
the hands of the operator.
(ii) Marionettes. These are manipulated by strings, wires or rods from a different level.
Knowing the operation of puppets, a teacher may deliver a whole lesson in social
studies through them. He can also hold puppet shows with proper use of light and
stage effects.

Advantages of Puppetry
(i) Puppetry can present ideas with extreme simplicity without elaborate scenery
and costurne aid quite effectively.
(ii) Distracting details are eliminated so that attention is focussed on the
dramatised experience itself.

There should be follow-up work in the class after every puppet show. Puppet shows have
maximum appeal for pupils of priry classes. However, it can be used with profit with pupils
of higher classes also.

A List of Events for Full-Length Plays

1. Alexander and Porus, 7. Buddha and His Teachings,

2. Shivaji and Aurangzeb, 8. Harish Chandra

3. Prithvi Raj nd Sanyogita, 9. Jesus Christ and His Teachings etc.

 4. Chandragupta and Chanakya, 10. Migrations, and the way in which
nomadic people move, in search of food or
pasture,
5. Akbar and Maharana Pratap. 11. Slave trade

6. Guru Nanak and His Teachings, 12. Importance of weather and sea to a
fishing village.

Suggested Events for Class Dramatization

1. Ashoka's Propagation of Buddhism 8. Tenzing climbing Everest

2. Jahangir's Justice 9. Journeys of Exploration and Discovery,

3. Golden Age of Guptas 10. Committee meeting of Municipal

corporations etc.
4. Sher-Shah's Administration 11. Mock elections

5. Round Table Conference 12. Mock Parliament

6. A Congress Session 13. Dramatised renderings of the work done

by Municipalities and Intemational agencies
7. Disaster in a coal-mine 14. Panchayat in session.

Guidelines to Teachers for Successful Dramatization :

1. Introduce dramatization in classrooms carefuly and see that the class takes it seriously

2. Do not dominate the show, direct and guide only from the background. Encourage pupils
to come forward and express them- selves

3. Choose characters as appropriately as possible. Take care that some pupils do not
monopolise al the activities. Do not plan stage setting and scenery in a classroom play
4 .While the chalk-board may present forests, a cleared space may represent a market place
Emphasise action, gestures, expres- sion, voice, and interpretation rather than clothes, scenery
and setting.

5. Histrionics must be property followed up. Questions, wisely chosen by you should be wide
open for discussion . These should ultimately help in increasing knowledge and
understandings.