“Imagination
is more important than knowledge.”
–Albert Einstein
” . . . the most important benefit of the arts may be the education of the imagination. Imagination is a powerful tool indeed; if we can imagine something, we can make it happen. Imagination is an invaluable resource for seeking–and finding–solutions to problems, as well as in defining and acting on opportunities.”
–Eric Oddleifson, The Center for Arts in the Basic Curriculum
The Case for Arts in Education
Story theater enhances the language arts curriculum.
“No Child Left Behind” and other kinds of mandates often leave teachers feeling there is no room or time in the classroom for anything but “the facts” and preparing for tests. At times, acceptable test scores seem to override all other considerations.
Repeatedly, research shows that the arts, either as stand alone subjects, or as key components of daily curriculum. enhance learning and, ironically–raise test scores.
Eric Oddleifson of The Center for Arts in the Basic Curriculum makes these points:
“Research into the records of students in several schools [in Wisconsin, North Carolina, New York, Georgia, Montreal, Canada; Massachusetts, and California] indicates that a curriculum that devotes 25% or more of the school day to the arts produces youngsters with academically superior abilities.
“. . . the arts develop higher order (critical and creative) thinking skills, including (1) the ability to deal with complexity and ambiguity; (2) the capacity for sound judgment; (3) attention to purpose (exploring alternative goals) as much as results; and (4) the ability to consider differing viewpoints and defer judgment.”
Are you looking for effective ways to engage students in learning? Puppetry, storytelling, creative drama, and story theater can be powerful dramatic teaching tools in a teacher’s bag of tricks.