The greeting sets the tone for the class as fourth graders line up in the hall to high five, fist bump, wave, dance, or shake a foot with Drama Teacher Margaret McFadden. Drama is a new addition to the regular academic schedule for students in grades three through seven this year, with an acting elective option for students in grades eight and nine. Once a rotation, students arrive at drama, and a quick boogie through the doorway reminds the fourth graders that this is a space for active learning, exploration, creative expression, and fun.

The drama curriculum supports Fay’s Vox Inventum program by empowering students to find their authentic voice and discover the power of their own story. Students learn to harness their dramatic tools of expression: voice, imagination, body, ensemble, and story through games and activities that stretch their self-confidence, power of expression, communication skills, and emotional intelligence. 

In Lower School, students have been working on ensemble building this month. Unlike most classes where students focus on individual performance and progress, drama requires students to work together for success. “It takes a long time to ingrain this idea, but in drama class, we work as a group,” says Margaret. Fourth grade students started exploring the concept of an ensemble with a drawing exercise where each student took an oversized paper puzzle piece and used the space to share their name, something important about them, and decorative elements. Once the puzzle pieces were complete, the students worked together to fit them into a large puzzle anchored by the four corners of an ensemble: considerate, connect, cooperate, and collaborate. Fifth graders were given a generic script and worked in small ensembles of two to three to construct a scene that made sense with the text by choosing unique settings, characters, and conflict. “I think of games as practicing the skills they need,” notes Margaret. “It might be really fun for the students, but they are also developing skills like communication, eye contact, volume, and practicing the productive habits of an artist as they observe, express, and develop their craft.”  

As the curriculum builds through the grades, students will have the opportunity to explore art forms like puppetry and pantomime, learn how the elements of theatrical design like props and costumes enhance storytelling, practice playwriting and directing, empathize with diverse characters, and experience culminating projects and performances such as the sixth grade play.