Although drama is a process we encounter daily through TV, cinema, theatre etc. it is not something the average person is consciously aware of, the fact that we are surrounded by it at all times may account for this passive attitude towards it, this type of performance drama (as found in television and theatre) while beneficial in confidence building and public expression is only part of the subject we term as drama. However drama in education encompasses far more than this.
             Children are aware of drama long before they enter the school system, the whole area of make believe involves a certain amount of drama. Often children's games are based in this world and it helps them make sense of the society they are entering. When children play at games such as mammies and daddies, doctors and nurses etc. they enter the adult world and assume characters, they get into role. This is important to their development because within this context they apply rational thinking and logic to their play in an effort to obtain answers to the things that puzzle them in this confusing world. "In play there is obvious learning potential in terms of skills and objective knowledge ..... it has to be felt for it to be effective"
             Through the drama sessions I began to see the playing of children's games in a whole new light. Although it usually generates great excitement and brings out a playfulness that is wholesome and fun it can be seen and used in many different contexts and can add many levels to the learning processes of a child. We played a game called Fruit Salad with great enthusiasm and on reflection I could see how a game like this could help develop a child's awareness, this game depended on good communication and co-operation, it depended on interaction, people interacted.
             We took the playing of games one step further and took a trip down memory lane as we tried to recall (in groups) the games we played as children, odd...