• Explore the history of the dramatic with your students.chinese drama -- change face image by huaxiadragon from Fotolia.com
  
  Teaching students about theater history provides them with information not only about past theatrical performances, but also about the societies in which these plays were put on. By integrating historical information into their theater history lessons, teachers can allow students to see the progression of the dramatic form over the years, as well as provide them with information about pivotal events and periods in history.
  
  

Explore Chronologically

• Students will be better able to see the progression of theater techniques and practice if you move through theater history chronologically. Set up a time line along a room wall, and place each play or playwright you discuss on the time line as you explore them. This will make it easier for your students to keep the information they are gathering in order and put their learning into a historical context.
  
  

Consider Historical Background

• You are not teaching your students history, but some historical background is necessary for student comprehension of theater history. Discuss historical events that factor prominently into plays or that influenced the plays being written during that period.
  
  

Explore Backstage Differences

• Your students do not learn about the different theater staging techniques simply by reading historically significant plays. Share information about staging techniques and special effects practices so that your students can see the progression in theater technology over the years.
  
  

Discuss Playwrights' Lives

• Students are often interested in the tumultuous lives of playwrights. Adding information about the personal lives of playwrights to your lessons can increase student interest. Additionally, as students learn about the playwrights who composed prominent historical plays, they can better understand where the playwrights got their ideas and why they incorporated specific themes and ideas in their plays.
  
  

Engage in Dramatic Readings

• Plays are meant to be performed. Allow your students to experience plays firsthand by engaging them in dramatic readings. Assign students parts and allow them to reenact classic plays for their peers. Integrating performance into your exploration of theater history will likely enhance student interest in the discipline.
  
  

See Live Performances

• Get your students out of the classroom whenever possible and take them to live revivals of classic plays. As your students see these performances, they will grow even fonder of theater and will become more interested in the history of the art form.