Stages in a drama session

* Practitioner's/children's ideas?

* Stimulus for the drama (a picture, object, letter, a story)

* What's in it for them?

* What's in it for me? (Is an obvious learning area already apparent?)

Stage 2 Starting point

* Roles Who are the children?

Who are the supporting staff?

Who am I?

* Place Where are we?

* Focus What are we doing?

Opening attitude? (How do we feel about what we're doing?) Stage 3 Deepening phase

* Work to deepen commitment in the drama (variable number of strategies) * Present a 'problem' - how does the group respond?

* Be on the lookout for possible learning areas that may arise * Teacher makes decision as to the group's learning need * Teacher may have anticipated certain lines of development, but remains flexible

Stage 4 Resolution phase

* Work to challenge/resolve situation (variable number of strategies) * Exploring a learning area

* Use of dramatic tension to make developments significant and meaningful * Reflecting on events in and/or out of role

(Taken from Developing Play and Drama in Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders, by Dave Sherrat and Melanie Peter (published April 2002 by David Fulton)