Term

Summer 2019

Capstone

Capstone Project

Degree Name

MAT

Content Expert

Crystal Spring

Abstract

This project seeks to understand how trauma affects the brain in order to inform more effective approaches for engaging high-school aged survivors of trauma in devising theater. By understanding how the brain responds in unfamiliar situations, a teacher can be more informed on how to prevent triggering the natural flight, fight, or freeze responses common to post-traumatic stress disorder. The realization that many trauma survivors need additional exercises and time to transition from survival mode to their more cognitive processes informs the processes necessary for creating theater from scratch. Planning for this results in a more carefully selected scaffolding of theater exercises and a slower-paced curriculum that differentiates specifically for survivors of trauma who may be new to theater. The curriculum is more organic in its construction to meet the constantly changing needs of the students. It offers a suggested structure and a menu of recommended activities and exercises built around assessments using the Understanding By Design method. This project will provide guidance in helping my current and future students learn that theater connects us on a profoundly human level that enhances their intellectual, psychological, and social development. Keywords: devised theater, creating, trauma-informed, theater curriculum, high-school theater

Keywords

At-risk Students, Curriculum, Social Justice, Teachers/ Teaching

dc_type

text

dc_publisher

DigitalCommons@Hamline

dc_format

application/pdf

dc_source

School of Education Student Capstone Projects

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