The Arts

Drama

Dramatic play allows children to:

• See the world from a different perspective   
• Expand imaginations
• Increase vocabulary
• Develop confidence
• Build problem solving skills

AND IT’S FUN!

StoriesAndChildren.com

In Arts lessons this term, all classes are exploring mime, movement and storytelling through Drama activities. Teaching students how to fully express themselves through these skills of dramatic play can promote their Creativity, Communication and Collaboration with others. 

To make valuable connections with National Sorry Day, Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week, Castle and Holly Unit students have been viewing Dreaming Stories from our First Nations people. We have learned about the Rainbow Serpent, How the Kangaroos Got their Tails, How the Kangaroo Got Her Pouch and Why the Koala has a Stumpy Tail. Students have been miming the movements of the animals in these stories and retelling the plot through the use of masks, plasticene models and paper bag puppets they have created. We hope to film our retelling of How the Koala Got a Stumpy Tail on iPads later this term. 

Our Upper Primary Students in Stillwell Unit have been focussing on the elements of mime and movement in Drama. They have been working on using body movements, clear hand actions and gestures to indicate the size, shape, texture of objects. Over the next few weeks, students will concentrate on adding facial expressions and body language to indicate emotions as they move toward miming an Aboriginal Dreaming story in small groups.

HEPS Reconciliation Song

All classes are in the process of learning our HEPS Reconciliation song that was written and produced in Term 4, 2021 by Adelaide Festival Centre staff, Nancy Bates and Katie Aspel (two Aboriginal musical artists) in conjunction with three of our classes (Tori Hay’s Year 1/2 class, April Woods’ Year 3/4 class and Natalie Jolley/Gab Martin’s Year 4/5 class). We hope to be able to come together early next term to sing our special song.

Choir

Our choir members together with myself and Miss Hay meet on Tuesdays for a 50 minute session to learn a total of 13 songs which will be performed at the Southern Metropolitan Music Festival in early November at the Hopgood Theatre. Some songs are challenging, some have choreography and sign language accompanying them and some have solo parts so we are extremely busy! Head conductor, Kristie Fudge, will be visiting us later this term to assist us with the learning of the songs and to give us some tips. If you are a parent or caregiver of a choir member, please praise them for committing to this exciting venture and encourage them to learn their songs on the app at home.

Melissa Thiele

The Arts Specialist teacher

Photo Gallery

Castle Unit students using masks and plasticine models to act out and retell the Aboriginal Dreaming Story of How the Kangaroos Got Their Tails.