Social and Emotional Focus: Understanding the consequences of ambition and ignoring advice. Building empathy by exploring the perspectives of Icarus and Daedalus. Reflecting on impulsive behaviour versus caution
Drama Techniques Used in the Workshop: Movement, Soundscapes, Hot seating, Role play and Conscience alley.
Learning Goals: Explore the balance between ambition and caution. Develop creative thinking through role play and alternative endings. Practice empathy by understanding the emotions of Icarus and Daedalus.
Movement Story: Long ago, Icarus and his father, Daedalus, were trapped in a tall tower. (Stand tall, arms stretched upward like the walls of a tower). Daedalus, a great inventor, decided to make wings out of feathers and wax. (Pretend to gather feathers and carefully glue them with wax). When the wings were ready, Daedalus warned, “Fly too low, and the sea will soak your wings. Fly too high, and the sun will melt the wax.” (Raise one finger and shake it, as if giving advice).
Together, they spread their wings and began to fly. (Stretch your arms out wide like wings and begin flapping slowly). As they took off, Icarus felt free. “I’m flying!” he shouted. (Run lightly while flapping your arms like wings, looking up with joy). Higher and higher he soared, forgetting his father’s warning. (Move your body upward, reaching for the sky, arms outstretched). But the sun grew hotter and hotter. (Pretend to feel heat on your face and wipe your forehead). The wax on Icarus’s wings began to melt. (Look at your arms, pretending the feathers are falling off).
Icarus tried to flap harder, but his wings were breaking. (Flap your arms weakly and stumble downward). Suddenly, he fell from the sky. (Slowly sink to the ground, arms dropping limply to your sides). His father watched in sorrow, knowing Icarus had flown too close to the sun. (Sit still and bow your head in sadness).
Introduction to Workshop: Set the scene by narrating the story while the children create the atmosphere through soundscapes and movement. Divide the group into smaller roles:
Daedalus and Icarus: Mime building the wings and preparing to escape.
The Sea and Sky: Use soundscapes like soft whooshing sounds (wind) and gentle slapping (waves).
The Sun: Mime the blazing heat and create humming sounds to represent intensity.
Pause at key moments in the narration to ask:
“What do you think Daedalus was feeling as he built the wings?”
“How do you think Icarus felt when he started to fly?”
Workshop Warm-Up:
Flying Emotions (Mime and Movement): Guide children to imagine they are discovering flight. Start with small flaps, growing more confident. Add emotions like excitement, fear, and despair to their movements.
Who Am I? (Role Play and Guessing): Describe a character or object from the story (e.g., “I built the wings but was worried,” or “I soared above the clouds”). The group guesses and acts out their movements.
Main Focus of the Workshop:
Hot Seating: Children take turns as Icarus or Daedalus. They sit in the hotseat and answer questions as their characters.
Example questions:
Questions for Icarus: “Why didn’t you listen to your father?” “How did it feel when the sun melted your wings?”
Questions for Daedalus: “Why did you decide to build the wings?” “What would you say to Icarus now?”
Role Play (Alternate Endings): Groups create alternative scenes, such as: Icarus listens to Daedalus and flies safely. Daedalus finds a way to prevent Icarus from flying too high.
Conscience Alley: Icarus walks through an alley of children offering conflicting advice: “Fly higher! The sun is so beautiful!” “Stay close to your father. He knows what’s best.” Afterward, Icarus reflects on the advice and shares their decision.
Closure/Reflection: Reflection Circle: Gather the group to discuss lessons from Icarus’s story. Ask: “What did Icarus learn from his experience?” “How might Daedalus feel about building the wings now?”
Diary Entry Activity: Children write or share verbally as Icarus or Daedalus. Icarus: “I wanted to touch the sun, but I didn’t think about the danger.” Daedalus: “I thought I was saving us, but I lost the person I cared about most.”
