Love in the Hot Seat: A Drama Lesson
To love and be loved is one of the greatest human experiences. Regardless of where you live, how old you are, or your social identities, love is a universal language we all speak and a feeling we can all relate to. Love represents the best of ourselves and others. It is about serving humanity with grace and compassion. It is unconditional, heart expanded, divinely inspired, and purposely guided. Love has the ability to heal and transform lives.
Love might look like collaboration, cooperation, listening, sharing, a hug, or holding hands. Love might sound like laughter, singing, soft rain, a baby cooing, bird songs, or appreciation. Love might feel like warmth, excitement, desire, motivation, relief, courage, or joy.
This lesson invites students to think broadly about the concept of love through drama.
Getting Started: Asking Questions
What symbol is associated with love?
Answer: heart.
Do you know why the heart is associated with love?
Answer: It dates back to the ancient Greek poet Sappho who wrote about agonizing love and a “mad heart.” It has also been said that Greek philosophers regarded the heart as a place in the body where our deepest emotions reside. This makes sense as the heart is truly the life force of an individual. The ancient Romans were also known for making connections to the heart and love. You can read more here.
Brainstorming Love
Provide each student with approximately five sticky notes. Have them write down words (singular or a brief sentence) they associate with love and place them on a white board, chalk board, or classroom wall where everyone can see. The students can interpret love broadly. The following are examples of words they might write down: friendship, family, pet, sister, brother, caring, respect, forgiveness, hug, kiss, smile, and so forth. As a class, review all of the words on the sticky notes. Expect there to be repetition of words.
Next, put the words in categories by relationships (e.g, to self, others, nature, world, etc.), feelings (e.g., emotions, physical sensations), and actions (e.g., physical such as a hug or kiss, or an act/deed such as caring for someone). You may choose different categories based on the words your students have written down or you may urge them to come up with more words if there is a category lacking in associations.
Writing Exercise
Individually or in pairs, invite students to write what they believe love looks like, sounds like, and feels like? Give them examples like the ones shared above or ones of your own. Have the students think about their own life when doing this exercise. For example, what does love look/sound/feel like at home, school, on the playground, or in the world?
Hot Seating Love
Hot seating is a drama strategy where a student (as themself or role playing a character) is interviewed/ questioned by other students. There are many purposes for using this strategy in drama education, including a deepened understanding of an individual or character (real or fictional). In this exercise, one student will be in the “hot seat” and be prepared to answer questions from a small group of peers who pose as interviewers.
Round 1: The student in the hot seat will take on the character of Love. They will have to think, act, and talk from a place of love. The students interviewing the character will be required to come up with questions they want Love to answer.
Examples: Why are you connected to the heart? What colour are you and why? Why do so many people want you in their lives? Who is your best friend? What would your perfect day look like? How do you go about solving problems?
Round 2: The students can learn about a historical figure who is known for their loving character (e.g., Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Fred Rogers, Martin Luther King Jr.). One student is assigned to the hot seat as the historical figure while the others ask questions. This will require some research and preparation beforehand. Each student in the group can take turns being in the hot seat (e.g., two questions per student).
Extension Idea: Have each group research a different historical figure. After the hot seat exercise, each group can do a presentation for the whole class by using other drama techniques such as tableau, storytelling, and role play in the context of a skit.
Reflections on Love
As a class, in a journal, or as an exit ticket, have students reflect on the following questions:
What did you learn about love that you didn't know before?
How did being in the hot seat or interviewing Love help you to learn?
What did you learn about your historical figure that was inspiring?
How might you show more love or act more loving in your own life?
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Traci L. Scheepstra, Ph.D., is the CEO/Founder of Embodied Learnings. Read here to learn more about her work in education.