Science through drama

Invite the children to explore space by building a virtual world of stars and planets

Banish thoughts of scripts and plays and chaotic lessons where teaching objectives are hard to identify. For the primary teacher seeking inspiration, there is a wealth of simple, improvisational drama techniques with which to teach science. As drama is the resource you don’t need to worry about having extra materials and rehearsals – you can just jump straight in!

Storytelling

As a gentle way into science through drama, storytelling activities can look reassuringly like traditional tablework. The brief is for children to tell a story that incorporates the science that they’ve learned in class. The Science Museum outreach team, who visit schools, tell the tale of a stuffed frog named Phil who takes off in a hot air balloon (upthrust), then floats along (balanced forces) until the balloon bursts and Phil falls (gravity) only to be saved by his parachute (air resistance). Stories of this sort can be shared between partners, tablegroups, and the whole class. This activity can then be followed up with written work or illustrated in drawings.