LIVING HISTORY is based on the theory that knowledge is constructive; students only know what they can create and think on their own. The teaching method is derived from drama process teaching, pioneered in England by Dorothy Heathcote in the 1950's. Mime, music and team-based activities are employed to engage 'multiple intelligences' and encourage individual expression.

LIVING HISTORY ENGAGES MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:

GENERAL TECHNIQUES

• DYNAMIC CLASSROOM ORGANIZATION: Alternating between whole group, pairs, small group, half group activities, constantly surprising the class and putting students in new relationships with each other.
• ENACTMENTS: Sometimes verbal, physical, or both, the creation of short scenes depicting possible events.
• ACTIVE - REFLECTIVE ENGAGEMENT: Doing something, then reflecting with the group on its meaning.
• QUESTIONING: Structured to broaden thinking and encourage speculation about "what if?" -- i.e. what might happen, how might we feel about it, what might be our motivation?

THEATRE TECHNIQUES

• TEACHER-IN-ROLE: The teacher takes a role, then, as a participant, entices students to enter the story.
• MANTLE OF THE EXPERT: Students take roles of experts, the most famous, knowledgeable, etc., raising their status in the experience.
• FROZEN PICTURES: Whole body work to create the frozen impression of a moment in time.

Drama techniques allow students to imaginatively construct their own meaning beyond the standard delivery of information.

LIVING HISTORY is "stand-up-and-do" learning that asks students to create events and construct meaning from them, based on the theory that students often only truly know what they can create and think on their own. It is founded on the wisdom of the Chinese proverb: "I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand."

The unique characteristics of this "stand-up-and-do" approach are:

• Being in "live" situations
• Working with your body to express, communicate
• Inventing verbal content
• Thinking from different perspectives
• Choosing what to do, who you are
• Collaborating with other people, having fun

This is a very brief introduction to an extensive and developed teaching method. If you want to know more about it, please let us know! Teacher Workshops are available for a fee of $550.