Improvisational Theater Games for Children in Park Interpretation

Abstract

With children increasingly disconnected from nature and much interpretation geared toward adults, agencies need age-appropriate techniques for children. Improvisational theater games use group-based role-playing to solve problems through dialogue and activity in a creative, spontaneous, supportive, and interactive atmosphere. This paper highlights children's enjoyment and perceived learning resulting from a new improvisation program in Banff National Park, Canada.

We thematically analyzed open-ended evaluations of an improvisation-dominated program. The activities enjoyed most included improvisation, because they involved fun, physical activity, creativity, challenge, and novelty. The least-enjoyed activities were physical activity games and an interpretive talk. Perceived learning was highest from an interpretive talk and nature walk and least from games focused on physical or group activities. Most perceived and desired learning related to natural history and park management topics. Despite being nontraditional and non-thematic, improvisation can contribute to children's enjoyment and perceived learning in park interpretive programs.

Keywords

improvisational theater games children national parks evaluation enjoyment perceived learning

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Adamson

(2004). Learning through play the natural way: Nature based activities promoting environmental education for young children. Langley, BC: Adamson Educational Services.

Beck

, & Cable

T. T.

(2002). Interpretation for the 21st century: Fifteen guiding principles for interpreting nature and culture (2nd ed.). Champaign, IL: Sagamore Publishing.

Caine

R. N.

, Caine

, McClintic

, & Klimek

(2005). 12 brain/mind learning principles in action: The fieldbook for making connections, teaching and the human brain. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Cessford

G. R.

(1989). Interpretation for children. Student Paper No. 1, Canterbury, New Zealand: Lincoln College.

Dickinson

, Neelands

& Shenton Primary School. (2006). Improve your primary school through drama. London: David Fulton Publishers.

Edgar

(2006). Making it up as we go along: The role of pretend games in early environmental education. Green Teacher 80, 18–21.

Forestell

P. H.

(1992). The anatomy of a whale watch: Marine tourism and environmental education. Current Journal of the National Marine Educators Association 11 (1), 10–15.

Government of Canada. (2007). Banff national park management plan: A place for people. Retrieved June 28, 2010, from Parks Canada, Banff National Park Web site: http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/docs/plan1/chap5/plan1e_E.asp.

Hansen-Møller

, & Taylor

(1991). Creative nature interpretation for children. Children's Environments Quarterly 8 (2), 30–37.

10.

Hvenegaard

, Johnson

, & Macklin

(2008). Improvisational theater games to engage children. The Interpreter 4 (2), 6–8.

11.

Hvenegaard

G. T.

, Shultis

, & Butler

J. R.

(2009). The role of interpretation. In Dearden

, & Rollins

(Eds.), Parks and protected areas in Canada: Planning and management (3rd ed.) (pp. 202–234). Don Mills, ON: Oxford University Press.

12.

Kellert

S. R.

, & Westervelt

M. O.

(1984). Children's attitudes, knowledge and behaviors towards animals. Children's Environments Quarterly 1 (3), 8–11.

13.

Louv

(2005). Last child in the woods: Saving our children from nature deficit disorder. Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin Books.

14.

Mearns

(1977). Creative drama in the classroom. In Cottrell

(Ed.), Teaching with creative dramatics (pp. 19–39). Skokie, IL: National Textbook Company.

15.

Parks Canada Agency. (2000). “Unimpaired for future generations” ? Protecting ecological integrity with Canada's national parks, Vol. II: Setting a new direction for Canada's national parks. Report of the Panel on the Ecological Integrity of Canada's National Parks. Cat. No. R62-323/2000-2E. Ottawa, ON: Minister of Public Works and Government Services.

16.

Peterson

, & O'Connor

(2006). Kids take the stage: Helping young people discover the creative outlet of theater (2nd ed.). New York: Back Stage Books.

17.

Singer

D. G.

, & Revenson

T. A.

(1996). A Piaget primer: How a child thinks (2nd ed.). New York: Plume.

18.

Spolin

(1983). Improvisation for the theater (2nd ed.). Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Press.

19.

Tarlton

J. L.

, & Ward

C. J.

(2006). The effect of thematic interpretation on a child's knowledge of an interpretive program. Journal of Interpretation Research 11 (1), 7–33.

20.

Tilden

(1977). Interpreting our heritage (3rd ed.). Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press.

21.

Vasta

, Miller

S. A.

, & Ellis

(2004). Child psychology (4th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons.

22.

Vygotsky

L. S.

(1997). Educational psychology. Boca Raton, FL: St. Lucie Press. Published originally in 1926 in Russian, Translated by R. Silverman.

23.

Wells

N. M.

, & Lekies

K. S.

(2006). Nature and the life course: Pathways from childhood nature experiences to adult environmentalism. Children, Youth and Environments 16 (1), 1–24.