They learn their personal histories and group identities through family photographs, videos, and stories their families tell. Young children integrate this information with data from other sources in their environments, forming their own self-identities through activities such as dramatic play. In many ways, theatre and the other arts are among children's first languages. Rhyme, rhythm, color, texture, movement and sound are among the ways young children first learn, Think of the determination of preschoolers learning the ABC's and the joy they have in playing dress-up.
Theatre is a fundamental way of exploring and knowing the world.
The focus of elementary theatre is creative drama, a form of theatre in which teachers guide learners through the processes of imagination, enactment, and reflection. Creative drama, a form of improvisation, uses stories drawn from literature, history, and current events to spark children's imaginations and original thinking. The success of creative drama depends very strongly on the teacher's choice of relevant, appropriate resource materials and how the improvisations are introduced and structured by the teacher. In kindergarten through grade 5, teachers and students may use printed materials and current or historical events as resources to stimulate children's imaginations. For example, a children's trade book may provide the basis of a re-creation or improvisation of the story.