Greek students "Learning Science through Theater"
"Learning Science through Theater" was successfully completed in a brilliant weekend on 2-3 May 2015 where students presented their performances. For this project, high school pupils (aged 11-17) were invited to dramatize science concepts and knowledge stemming from the school curriculum. At the moment the project was aimed at schools of Attica. Pupils dramatized what they learned in class, through a flexible script called "Parallel Worlds", which included five units/acts concerning the fields of Biology, Astronomy and Physics. Pupils were organized in work groups (scriptwriters, actors, musicians, dancers, video producers, set and costume designers) that were offered professional support. At least one teacher per school was responsible for organizing the activities. Teachers had the opportunity to make these activities part of the curriculum of the respective lessons (Physics, Astronomy, Music, biology, Art) as projects or introduce them to the school societies (drama, music etc.).
The program involved about 500 students from 16 schools of Attica, both public and private. The schools that participated were the following:
High School of Marathonas
High School of Pikermi
3rd High School of Petroupoli
2nd Protypo Experimental High School of Athens
50th High School
1st Secondary School of Nea Makri
1st High School of Nea Makri
2nd High School of Gerakas
Ekpaideftiria Giannopoulou
Zanneio Model Experimental High School of Piraeus
Protypo Experimental Evangeliki High School of Smyrni
Protypo Experimental Secondary School of Anavryta
1st High School of Aghios Dimitrios
1st High School of Aghia Varvara
Italian School of Athens
Protypo Experimental Varvakeios Secondary School
After all pupils staged, a panel of professionals (academics, science teachers, students, directors, actors, musicians) judged their performances. They were evaluated on five criteria: remake / adaptation scenario, direction, soundtrack, stage sets and costumes and choreography. All schools received the prize of creativity CREAT-IT. The winners based on the results, are the following schools:
- Best remake/adaptation scenario: Zanneio Protypo Experimental High School of Piraeus
- Best direction: 2nd High School of Gerakas
- Best soundtrack: Protypo Experimental Evangeliki High School of Smyrni
- Best stage sets and costumes: Protypo Experimental Secondary School of Anavryta
- Best choreography: Ekpaideftiria Giannopoulou
- Best overall presentation: 3rd High School of Petroupoli
Besides, the judges considered it was necessary to award the following schools with some special distinctions:
- Distinction for Participation in Production of Original Musical Content: High School of Marathonas
- Distinction for Original Versification: Italian School of Athens
- Distinction for Original Stage Sets: High School of Marathonas
- Distinction for Digital Storytelling: Model Experimental Varvakeios Secondary School
- Distinction for Painting Backdrops: 2nd High School of Gerakas
- Distinction for Original Choreography: Zanneio Model Experimental High School of Piraeus
- Distinction for Stage Performance: High School of Pikermi
- Distinction for Qualitative Approach of Scientific Content: 2nd Model Experimental High School of Athens
- Distinction for Qualitative Approach of Scenario: 1st High School of Aghios Dimitrios
- Distinction for Performance of Directorial Instruction: 1st High School of Aghia Varvara
- Distinction for Live Performance of Acoustic Instruments: 2nd High School of Gerakas
- Distinction for Performance of Scientific Concepts through Embodied Learning: 50th High School, 1st Secondary School of Nea Makri, 1st High School of Nea Makri
- Distinction for Precision in Scientific Approach: Model Experimental Evangeliki High School of Smyrni
Pupils chosen based on their performance will be asked to prepare for and participate in another performance that will include all the acts and will take place in Athens and will be open to the public. Those pupils will give another performance for the CREAT-IT Summer School in June 2015 in Athens and for the International Conference of the CREAT-IT European project in October 2015 for conference participants as well as the public.
Project organizers
- Science View (Greek Association of Science Journalists, Science Writers and Science communicators) Programme coordinator: Menelaos Sotiriou, Science View Secretary General (sotiriou@sceinceview.gr)
- School of Philosophy, Pedagogy and Psychology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Scientific coordinator: Zacharoula Smirnaiou, Assistant Professor (zsmyrnaiou@ppp.uoa.gr)
The project is based on the pedagogical framework developed by the EU project CREAT-IT (www.creatit-project.eu) which supported the activity.
The project is under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Culture, Education and Religious Affairs.
More information: http://lstt.weebly.com/.
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author (CreatIT Consortium), and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
