My name is Margaret Branscombe and I am a consultant and practitioner who uses drama and movement based activities in educational, community and business settings. In schools I deliver lessons across the curriculum using drama and movement and I lead workshops for teachers on why we should be moving to learn and how to do it.
I believe the body is a resource that helps us learn and show learning. Whilst completing my doctoral research in teaching science through dramatic methods, a third grade student observed “the drama gave me more energy in my brain”. This quote has stayed with me as a powerful statement on the connection between movement and learning. As we use our whole selves to learn and engage with ideas, the learning becomes ‘three dimensional’, accessible and consequently more memorable.
Lesson activities
You will find descriptions of movement and drama methods that I have used to teach different texts and concepts across the primary and secondary curriculum. The descriptions are not detailed lesson plans but I hope you will find them useful as a stimulus for incorporating more movement in your classroom and if you need further guidance, I’d be delighted to work with you.
Community drama and movement
My work in the community includes using movement to teach English as an additional language to young adults and to dramatise religious texts with faith based groups. I have also run a drama workshop with a chocolate making business to teach collaboration among employees and to have some fun!
Contact me
Please contact me if you are interested to know more about using drama and movement for a purpose that is tailored to your community setting. I would be delighted to work with you.
Please do get in touch!
Favourite books on teaching:
‘The Courage to Teach’ – Parker J Palmer
‘Collected Writings on Education and Drama’ – Dorothy Heathcote. Edited by Liz Johnson and Cecily O’Neill
‘The Dramatic Method of Teaching’ – Harriet Finlay Johnson
‘Children’s Minds’ – Margaret Donaldson
‘Push Back the Desks’ – Albert Cullum