ThThis teacher held teaching certification in
elementary education and in drama and speech communication. She was also an
experienced teacher in the use of the FOSSTM materials. As the teacher in this study,
her primary task was to make certain that the creative drama activities were connected
to the science concepts taught in the inquiry modules. In addition, through the
exchange of ideas and questioning of students, the teacher served to clarify the drama
activity while guiding the students to connect the science to the role-playing they were
undertaking. The teacher used the ‘‘drama coach as facilitator approach’’ whenever
students wrote skits, improvised songs, and in the case of the fourth grade class,
developed an original puppet play on how vibrations or sound waves need a medium
through which to travel. This teaching approach meant the teacher encouraged student
creative thinking and action, and helped redirect their efforts as needed.