This book provides teachers of children at Key Stages 1 and 2 with a much-needed source of exciting and creative drama-based activities, designed to improve literacy. As useful for the drama novice as for the busy literacy co-ordinator, these flexible activities are designed to help teachers meet National Curriculum and National Literacy Strategy (NLS) requirements, particularly through speaking and listening.The book is divided into three parts:Part 1 looks at literacy and the power of drama as a 'brain-friendly' medium for teaching and learning.Part 2 contains ten structured, practical units of work, each based on a different story, poem, play or traditional tale or rhyme and each linked directly to the requirements and objectives of the NLS and the QCA objectives for speaking and listening.Part 3 contains photocopiable Literacy Support Sheets for teachers to use and adapt for their own classroom needs.All units of work have been tried and tested by the authors, giving teachers a springboard from which to enhance and extend their literacy lessons, and engage the imagination of their pupils. The book is also the ideal resource for student teachers.

Part I Introduction 1. Drama and Imaginative Role Play 2. Drama as a Creative Teaching and Learning Medium 3. Drama and Literacy 4. Drama and Thinking Skills 5. Drama and ICT 6. Assessment in Drama 7. Drama Strategies and Conventions Part 2 Introduction Unit 1 - Queen of Hearts; Unit 2 - Katie Morag and the Two Grandmothers; Unit 3 - Voices in the Park; Unit 4 - The Last Wolf; Unit 5 - The Man Who Sold his Shadow; Unit 6 - Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters; Unit 7 - Theseus and the Minotaur; Unit 8 - The Lady of Shallot; Unit 9 - The Asrai; Unit 10 - Macbeth Part 3 - Literacy Support Sheets Introduction; Literacy Support Sheets 1 - 11