Drama Education Online

Social Emotional Learning and Drama

The HTY Drama Education staff offer a variety of simple, engaging games and activities for parents and their children, for kids to explore together and for anyone to play through video chats! Have fun keeping your imagination in play.

GRADE LEVEL FOCUS: PRE-K / K

Why the Face?

Using the book ‘Why the Face?’, teaching artist Ms. Clara guides students to identify feelings expressed in the book and create various facial reactions of their own.

GRADE LEVEL FOCUS: K – 2

Diverse Crayons

Teaching artist Ms. Clara and her young son Austin imagine a world in which crayons just cannot get along with each other. How will the crayons learn to value each other? And how does a young boy help?

GRADE LEVEL FOCUS: K – 2

Frozen Feelings

Students will express a variety of feelings using their body, guided by teaching artist Ms. Clara.

GRADE LEVEL FOCUS: K – 2

Imaginary Journey

Having a stressful or difficult day? Come take an imaginary journey with teaching artists Ms. Lily and Mr. Jonathan to your ‘Personal Paradise’ to help bring a little joy and calm into your life.

GRADE LEVEL FOCUS: K – 2

Jenny

Jenny, a young girl who loves to draw, wants to share her new picture with the teacher. But Jenny has trouble controlling her reaction when she doesn’t get what she wants. How can the students help her?

GRADE LEVEL FOCUS: K – 2

Nalani Says No

Two young friends meet to play together, but a conflict quickly arises as one of them dominates the whole activity, almost leaving out her friend. How will they solve their problem?

GRADE LEVEL FOCUS: K – 3

Reporting vs. Tattling

What is the difference between reporting information and tattling on someone? This video shows several examples of children talking to the teacher about fellow students. Which example is reporting information and which is tattling?

GRADE LEVEL FOCUS: K – 3

Out of Control

Poor Kalia!  She so badly wants to share her experiences with everyone!  She has such a hard time holding back her ideas and feelings.  This video story asks students, how might Kalia improve her communication skills?

GRADE LEVEL FOCUS: K – 4

Creative Chair

Stretch imaginations through an interactive that helps reduce stress, encourage focus and have a fun little break!

GRADE LEVEL FOCUS: 1-4

Investigation: Problem-Solving

An investigative reporter asks the question, “Can kids solve their own problems?’ Three scenarios demonstrate different issues kids might encounter. The audience is challenged to consider how they might solve the problem themselves.

GRADE LEVEL FOCUS: 2-4

Helpful or Hurtful

Three students who are supposed to be friends face the challenge of how to communicate in respectful and supportive ways. How do their words and attitude matter?

GRADE LEVEL FOCUS: 2-5

Be an Ally

Two young people are on a video chat. You, the audience, are treated as a third character on that chat. When the chat gets a little uncomfortable, how might you respond if you were actually there?

GRADE LEVEL FOCUS: 2-5

It’s Not My Fault!

What causes partners to blame each other for their problems working together? HTY teaching artists Ms. Lily and Mr. Jonathan are joined by guest artist Ms. Stephanie to present a scene of students who struggle to work well together, asking the question: How might the characters of Maka and Nina improve their working relationship?

GRADE LEVEL FOCUS: 2-6

Expressive Tree

Teaching artist Ms. Clara demonstrates how students can define and express feelings through drawing.

GRADE LEVEL FOCUS: 3-4

Aalia of the Rainforest

Teaching artist Ms. Lily introduces a young girl named Aalia whose rainforest home is facing destruction. How can Aalia best communicate to people the importance of her home? (Inspired by the book ‘Aana and the Treehuggers.’)

GRADE LEVEL FOCUS: 3 – 4

Reactions

Teaching artist Ms. Lily presents a series of situations, encouraging students to use their bodies and faces to show how they might react to each one.

GRADE LEVEL FOCUS: 3 – 4

I Wish my Teacher Knew

Teaching artist Ms. Lily guides students to creatively portray important aspects of themselves that the teacher might not know.

GRADE LEVEL FOCUS: 3 – 5

The Choicest of Choices

Nancy lets her friend Carlos borrow her phone charger anytime he wants. But when Carlos starts to take advantage of Nancy’s generosity, Nancy has to decide what’s the best way to let Carlos know that all of his borrowing is causing problems for her. Nancy imagines different ways to communicate the issue. Which is her best option?

GRADE LEVEL FOCUS: 3 – 5

BAAD Habits

Every day is filled with decisions that affect our health.  Some choices might seem healthy, but just might surprise us.  In this participatory game show-like video, HTY teaching artist Ms. Elizabeth challenges students to decide – which are healthy choices and which might be Baaad Habits!

GRADE LEVEL FOCUS: 3 – 6

Empathy Busters

The ‘Empathy Busters’ Game Show demonstrates both appropriate and inappropriate reactions to different situations. Students are challenged to identify which show empathy and which are ‘empathy busters.’

GRADE LEVEL FOCUS: 3 – 6

Life Line

Who can you turn to for help? In this video, four different characters struggle with problems. After each one is presented, student pairs discuss who the character could ask for help with the problem.

GRADE LEVEL FOCUS: 3-6

Meet Your Goals

In this imaginative game show, three young contestants (played by HTY teaching artists Ms. Clara, Mr. Jonathan and Ms. Lily) are challenged to complete a book report over a weekend. What obstacles do they face? Will they successfully set and meet their goal before Monday morning? Throughout, the video audience is invited to identify which character might succeed and how the contestants might overcome their personal obstacles.

GRADE LEVEL FOCUS: 3-6

Rewind

After a major rainstorm, three friends visit an overly flooded river.  The friends dare each other to cross the turbulent waters. How does friendship influence healthy decision-making?

GRADE LEVEL FOCUS: 4-6

This is Your Life

Your life is good. Success at school. Fun with friends. Playing awesome online games. And playing. And playing. And playing.  For hours on end.  How does technology influence our personal health?

GRADE LEVEL FOCUS: 4 – 6

Stress

Students express various forms of stress and relaxation through drama, guided by teaching artist Mr. Jonathan.

GRADE LEVEL FOCUS: 4 – 6

Goals for Life

How might students envision their future goals now? Students imagine a life goal through movement and decide on steps they need to take to achieve that goal.

GRADE LEVEL FOCUS: 4 – 6

Bruddah Buzz at School

A young man named Braddah Buzz struggles with focus at school. Students will be asked to identify his problem and write a letter to offer him advice as to how he might get better at managing his focus.

GRADE LEVEL FOCUS: 4 and up

#Besties: SEL and Social Media

Ava and Brooklyn are best friends about to start 7th grade! Middle school can bring new changes for these friends–new schedules, new extracurriculars, and new friends. In an age where everything is posted on social media, how will social media effect Ava and Brooklyn’s friendship?

GRADE LEVEL FOCUS: 5-6

Bruddah Buzz at the Edge

A young surfer named Braddah Buzz faces an unexpected encounter as he catches an awesome wave. But can he control his emotional response to the encounter?