Use the right equipment. Students should be properly clothed for lessons in drama and dance. Both boys and girls should have shoes with rubber soles to help provide stability of movement. Girls should pin their hair back with rubber bands or bobby pins. Clear the stage of unnecessary obstacles to help students avoid injury. Look at the floor before students arrive for lessons. Make sure it clean and no small items are there that could hurt small hands and feet. If you are using mirrors, clean them so that students can see themselves properly as they move.
Work on the basics first. Most elementary aged students have little initial experience with drama and dance. Introduce students to fundamental concepts. Students should become aware of proper positioning as they walk, as well as bodyline and the five ballet positions. Drama lessons should focus on awareness of speech patterns and memorization techniques.
Bring students to professional performances. Some students may have never seen a play or dance before. Investigate local theater and dance groups. Many offer student groups greatly reduced ticket prices for afternoon matinees. Allow at least a month to reserve tickets and get parental permission slips. Bring in a television so that students can view taped plays and dramas. Many libraries have an extensive library of performances suitable for elementary aged children.
Provide resources for students who do well in class. Some students might find they have a talent for acting or an ability to move well. Help more advanced students find an outlet for their abilities. If you are teaching at public school, keep materials on hand about scholarships and lessons at nearby professional dance and acting schools. If you are giving lessons at a private dance academy, allow more advanced pupils to move into more advanced classes even if they do not meet traditional age requirements.
Ask other students to assist you in lessons. Allow your students to help you lead the class. Students who have learned to recite a particularly complex speech or intricate dance step can help others learn. Younger children respond well to assistance from peers. A child may understand why a student has trouble with a particular movement or word better than the teacher. Ask students to demonstrate their abilities in front of their classmates. Divide pupils into groups to work on sections of a play or specific dances. Designate one student to be each group's leader.