Unit Guide

Cooperation and Dramatic Play in the Kindergarten Classroom

Renee Ziegler

In this unit on developing cooperation skills, children participate in a variety of dramatic play activities, which will enhance listening and speaking skills. The content of this unit addresses the developmental needs of the five and six year old child, while at the same time working on Common Core Listening and Speaking Standards and National Arts Standards, as well. This unit is adaptable to any time of the school year. However, it does have the potential to be a year-long unit, with the first lessons focusing on open-ended dramatic playing and teacher guided drama experiences. The students will have ample opportunity to learn to work together and also to develop an understanding of how stories work. Children need to be able to communicate ideas verbally before they will be able to write coherently, which is why strengthening listening and speaking skills is paramount, especially early in the school year. In the last activity, the students are building on their cooperation and language skills by creating puppets and puppet shows in small groups.