Drama and Role Play are powerful teaching approaches for language development. The themed edition of Primary History 48, Spring 2008 History, Drama and the Classroom provides a comprehensive introduction and detailed guidance to language development through roleplay and drama. PH 48 contains numerous case-studies illuminating a full range of approaches.

Case-Study 14: The Tempest Zoe Percharde describes how 9-11 year old children developed rich and varied language through the stimulus of producing and performing The  Tempest at Stokesay Castle, Shropshire.

Approaches to Drama and Writing, (Bage, 1999)

A Teacher in role

It should be understood that this is not about the teacher turning into an actor! It simply requires the teacher to take on the point of view of someone else. The power of teacher in role lies in:

• being able to feed pupils information about the historical situation under consideration; and
• helping the class gain confidence in taking on a role themselves...