Storytelling in Theatre, Physical Activity Enhances Learning

Storytelling in Theatre

Costumes, music, dance, scenery…all become powerful elements in the telling of a story. The magic of theatre is front and center stage for us in this segment of Worlds Awaiting. Teresa Love has been working as a theatre specialist for over 30 years and currently teaches in the BYU Theatre and Media Arts Department. She also instructs classroom teachers about the value of drama in elementary schools and even teaches a class on storytelling. Love is a professional development partner with the Beverly Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Project. She recently directed Water Sings Blue with BYU’s Theatre for Young Audiences known as The Young Company. The play is based on Kate Coombs’ award winning poetry book about the ocean. 
Physical Activity Enhances Learning

Next, Rachel visits with David Barney, Professor of Physical Education at BYU. Physical activity has been proven by research to stimulate the brain and increase blood flow – which, as Barney will relate, increases our capacity to learn. After physical activity – students’ reading and math skills improve and they become more focused. David Barney is a member of the Teacher Education Department at BYU. He has taught at Oklahoma State University, North Dakota State University, and in public schools in Utah and Florida.
We finish up the show today with a book review from Ann-Marie Marchant, Teen Librarian and Teen Programs Director at the Provo Public Library in Utah. Marchant introduces a Young Adult novel entitled Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan. We’ll look forward to more young reader book reviews from other librarians in the future. For a full collection of book reviews, check out the Worlds Awaiting Book Reviews link on our website at byuradio.org.