Pre-K-8
Network Co-Chairs
Erin Hulse
Elizabeth Calise

Network Description
Welcome to the Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade Network! Our mission is to represent the interests of AATE members who teach drama to preschool, primary, intermediate, and middle school (or junior high depending on your philosophy) students. Our constituents include drama specialists, elementary teachers, elementary or middle school theatre directors, or college professors training elementary drama teachers. They also include drama specialists training elementary teachers or doing workshops in the schools.

Below are some of the projects the Pre-K-8 Networks has developed in the past.
Please check back for updates from the 2005 conference!

Lesson Plan Exchange
Experienced drama specialists will demonstrate their approaches integrating drama in elementary education. Persons attending the workshop are invited to bring 30 copies of a favorite unit plan. They will in turn receive lesson plans from other attendees.

Putting On A Successful K-6 Play
Following up last summer's well-attended workshop: Putting on a Play with How Many?, this workshop will offer strategies and plays suitable for K-6 performers.

Kentucky's Drama Tool Box
An example of the resource kit developed in Kentucky for drama consultants to use in teacher training and for teachers to use in integrating drama in their curriculum. Additional resources include the ASU web site which will be explicated at: DRAMA ON LINE@ASU.EDU.

We started a NEW network project this year. This project is to create a "toolbox" for our members to present the idea of using theatre/drama in the classroom for regular classroom teachers. We all believe that the use of drama enriches the lives of students and we want to get the word out to teachers. Amid budget cuts and attitudes that assume the arts are "extras," we all know the power of drama to help teach. That's why we do what we do! We decided that a toolbox would provide options so that it will be more flexible for the presenter when evaluating the needs of the participants. This toolbox will have a variety of activities, resources, research data and handouts for any AATE member who would like to present a workshop or presentation to classroom teachers at an education conference or other appropriate venue. Bonnie Duncan & Jenny Vitrano, have volunteered to co-chair this on-going project. We'll be looking forward to an update on this project.

Have ideas, questions, or concerns? Let us hear from you.