I have started a forum as the last tab for this blog and in it, I am going to post a thread about the top ten books you should have on your desk for Arts Education. The number one book that should be on your desk is Jonothan Neelands and Tony Goode's book called Structuring Drama Work.
What makes this such a useful book is how it is organized. Neelands breaks up dramatic action into four dramatic conventions. However, these conventions can translate easily into Arts Education activities.
In his book, there are a number activites for each type of convention. So, lets say I want to build context for the "Hero's Journey" unit - I could have them make a soundtrack (page 24) for the tableaus I am going to have them make. For a poetic activity, the students could turn one of the points on the "Hero's Journey" into a ritual or a ceremony (page 52). For a reflective activity the students could build a group sculpture (page 79) of the "Hero's Journey".
All this work could be used to help students formulate a final project for the "Hero's Journey".
