BRINGING DRAMA INTO THE CLASSROOM. Engaging students through theatrical techniques
ERASMUS K1 PROJECT
about the course
course description
Today, children’s attention span is on average lower and sitting passively listening becomes difficult and unproductive. Theater allows them to actively participate in lessons, as well as motivate them and help them memorize concepts.
Moreover, the course emphasizes the importance of inclusivity, ensuring that all students—regardless of their abilities or background—can actively participate in the learning process. Through theatre-based techniques, teachers will be equipped to create a classroom climate that promotes cooperation, socialization, and mutual respect, helping students feel more confident in their ability to express themselves and collaborate with others.
LEARNING GOALS
- Discover practical theatrical tools to enhance teaching across different subjects
- Increase student engagement by making learning more interactive and enjoyable
- Foster creativity and critical thinking by encouraging students to explore concepts in depth
- Develop inclusive teaching practices to ensure all students can benefit from theatre-based methods
- Explore non-formal education methods that support socialization and personal development
- Strengthen team-building skills to create a cooperative and problem-solving classroom environment
Target Group
Any teacher at any level of education working in a public or private school or educational institutions.
Potentially all adults and also professionals in the field of education are welcomed to this course.
program/Training Modules
INTRO/METHOD
Like all our programs, the present one is flexible and adaptable to special requests, depending on the subject taught or on the starting level of the participant.
Furthermore, in line with the JUMP Academy method, our courses are based on a strategic balance between formal and non-formal education, indoor and outdoor education and the team takes care of a very important aspect of international mobility which is the intercultural learning which we develop with short excursions and facilitating the interaction with local partners, businesses and citizens of our territory. Each local context has its own economy so it’s always useful, in training programs, to get in contact with concrete examples (experiential learning and real based learning).
We always try to connect our learners to local teachers and students to cooperate in developing innovation and networking for future projects. If possible, inside the program, a morning is spent inside a local school, visiting, observing, and cooperating in the realization of one or more lessons. The proposed program JUMP works, in European dimension and with an international spirit, at the local level and, according to the period of the training along the year and the weather, it is possible to change some sessions and add visits and meetings, in cooperation with our network of partners including schools involved in European projects).
WEEK DAILY SCHEDULE
Saturday or Sunday:
Arrival of participants, transfer and welcome. Lodging and logistic support. Depending on the arrival time the participants are helped to have a meal or fulfill any other need.
Monday morning session: 9:30-12:30
Meeting in the lobby of Villa Gabriella International, welcome, first briefing by the organizers, presentation of the team, logistics information, gadgets distribution and start of the program. Walking down to the city center. Outdoor team building activity “The Mission Impossible game in Soverato”. Getting to know the important places of the city, the orientation points, traditions and cultural elements, interacting with local citizens.
12:30 end of the morning activity with a debriefing and logistic info
Free time for lunch or to enjoy the beach
Organized lift from the city center to the Villa.
Monday afternoon session: 15:00 – 17:00
“Experience Calabria. A place to live, a place to love”. Presentation of JUMP and of the most important cultural elements of the region. Participants are asked to present themselves quickly and introduce their school in a creative or digital way using the internet and our screen.
Dinner organized for all the groups in a local restaurant.
Tuesday morning session: 9:30-12:30
Meeting on the terrace of Villa Gabriella.
First outdoor ice breaking game to get to know each other and create a good working climate.
Division in small groups and start of the indoors or outdoor sessions with the JUMP trainer.
Introduction to Module 1, Understanding the basics of drama in education and recognizing the benefits of using drama for active learning and student engagement.
13:00 – 15:00 lunch break and free time
Tuesday afternoon session: 15:00 – 17:30
1st excursion to develop cultural knowledge, strengthen team building and socialization among participants.
“Walking tour to the old village of Soverato Superiore, visit to the Church of “La Pietà” of Gagini and exploring the narrow streets. Interacting with local people.
Free evening to enjoy the city center or rest. Possibly JUMP can propose a social activity like a wine tasting.
Wednesday morning session: 09:30 – 12:30
Module 2, Learning to use drama techniques to enhance student confidence and self-esteem, while exploring the power of non-verbal communication in fostering a supportive and engaging learning environment.
Module 3, Using role play to explore and creatively interpret a subject’s topic, enhancing the ability to make content more engaging and memorable for students.
13:00 – 15:00 lunch break and free time
Wednesday afternoon session: 15:00 – 17:30
Module 4, Using theatre to engage students in a collaborative review, enhancing retention and understanding.
Free evening to enjoy the city center or rest
Thursday morning session: 9:30 – 12:30
Module 5, Teachers will apply theatre-based techniques to their specific subjects, developing lesson plans or activities that integrate drama into diverse classroom settings.
Thursday afternoon is (usually) free time.
The staff will provide some suggestions for possible activities or excursions. For example to Catanzaro city, Capital of the region
Friday morning session: 09:30 – 11:00 (shorter morning lesson).
Module 6, Reflecting on the techniques learned throughout the training and create an action plan for integrating at least one theatre-based technique into the teaching practice.
11:00 free time to visit the local market which is nice and folkloristic.
On Friday – at an agreed time – usually in the afternoon – it’s organized as an excursion in a beautiful and unique old village with a final dinner. The staff enjoys it and there’s a professional guide with us.
Depending on the season the excursion starts in the morning or in the afternoon. From July to September it’s usually in the afternoon-evening for the high heat.
Saturday morning session: 09:30 – 12:00
Closing the course: Evaluation and delivery of formal certificates/Europass and admin documents.
Saturday afternoon:
Free time and last moments all the participants together for socialization.
Sunday:
Departure of participants.
The indicated times may suffer some changes depending on the season (earlier in the winter time and later in the summertime).
TRAINING MODULES
Module 1, Understanding the basics of drama in education and recognizing the benefits of using drama for active learning and student engagement.
Module 2, Learning to use drama techniques to enhance student confidence and self-esteem, while exploring the power of non-verbal communication in fostering a supportive and engaging learning environment.
Module 3, Using role play to explore and creatively interpret a subject’s topic, enhancing the ability to make content more engaging and memorable for students.
Module 4, Using theatre to engage students in a collaborative review, enhancing retention and understanding.
Module 5, Teachers will apply theatre-based techniques to their specific subjects, developing lesson plans or activities that integrate drama into diverse classroom settings.
Module 6, Reflecting on the techniques learned throughout the training and create an action plan for integrating at least one theatre-based technique into the teaching practice.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the course the participants will have:
- Understood how theatre techniques can engage students emotionally and intellectually.
- Used voice, movement, and character creation to enhance lesson delivery and classroom atmosphere.
- Integrated creative approaches like role-playing and improvisation into teaching practices.
- Fostered a dynamic, student-centered classroom environment that encourages participation and deeper learning.
certification details
JUMP certifies or 36 hours for 6 days course (6*6) or more if needed adding extra hours per day. Or 30 hours for a 5 days course (6*5).
The course can be also extended to a 2 weeks course with the options 10 days or 12 days course if asked and agreed, depending on the project of the sending organization.
10 days are excluded the weekend (5+5), 12 days are from Monday to Saturday morning (6+6).
At the end of the training, JUMP delivers a formal certificate of attendance and the team is at disposal to fill the Europass certification document according to the EU model template and other needed documents for reporting of the sending institution.
Quality standards
Our courses are in line with the Erasmus+ Quality standards for courses under Key Action 1 (learning mobility of individuals)
Costs
The cost is fully covered by the Erasmus grant. Write to associazionejump@gmail.com to ask for information on costs and the services provided to plan your mobility project in Soverato with JUMP.
How to apply
For info and registration about the course fill the form below or contact us to our mail.