Drama for Kids

ACTIVE GAMES

TOY STORE

This game is first because it's the best game ever!!! Explain to the kids that they are going to be toys in your store. When the storekeeper is in the store the toys CAN NOT move (no electronic toys). They cannot "talk, move, or giggle." But when you leave the store the toys can come to life and play. When you come back in, you've noticed everything has moved around. Exclaim over the changes and then rearrange the toys so they are back to their original places (or close). Then leave the store and play again! 

HUMAN NUMBERS

The instructor calls out a number and the players in each group must arrange themselves so that they represent that number. The first and most correct group gets a point. There are many different ways to do this. A group of five kids could make ten by lying on the floor in the shape of the number ten, holding up ten feet, or doing ten jumping jacks. To do the number one the kids could group together, showing that they have one whole group. The only rule is that everyone has to be involved.

  

MOVE LIKE A ___________.

For pre-K through 2^nd (though older kids can enjoy it too). Give the group different animals/people to pretend to be. After a minute or so, assign them another character. For example: “Move like an old man”, “move like a monkey”. Other ideas: Giraffe, dog, cat, fish, mom or dad, big brother, teacher, puppet, tree, someone stuck up, a bully, a baby, someone shy, or a five year old (this is particularly good if they are actually 5 years old.)

  

TUG-OF-WAR

The players must play tug-of-war with an imaginary rope. Unlike a typical game of tug-of-war, the goal is not to win, but to work together.

Dance round to music. When it stops form pairs. Caller says body parts the partners have to touch together e.g. nose to elbow, ear to knee.

 

FOLLOW YOUR NOSE

A movement exercise for the whole group. Move around the room, filling up the space, changing pace, changing direction, being aware of other people but not touching them. Now become aware of your nose. Let your nose lead you around the room. Follow it wherever it goes!

 

Develop this by focusing on different parts of the body, so that participants begin to discover new ways of moving. Very useful for dance or physical theatre, or simply for discovering movement ideas for characters. Try being led by your stomach, your little toe, your knee, your back, and so on.

DRAMA TAG

Freeze tag, but when players are tagged they must kneel and freeze in an emotion. To free them, another player must kneel next to them, ask what their emotion is, and copy it.

 

ANIMAL TAG

One player starts by being an animal or thing (such as a monkey or a snake) and all other players copy what they are doing. The 'in' player must try and tag another player, who must then become a thing, and so it goes on.

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I've found these games online, but haven't tried them:

 

  WALKING EXERCISE

Have the class stand in a big circle. Begin with them walking in a circle. What they will be doing is changing the way they walk and comparing the sensation to that of walking normally. Have them walk as they would if there were a rope or string attached to: The top of their head, their forehead, nose, chin, shoulders, chest, stomach, hips, knees, or toes. You usually have time for only 3 to 5--choose the ones you want (favorites are: top of head, nose, chest, stomach, and toes). In between each way of walking, have them walk normally. Depending on the size and disposition of the group have them walk each way 10-20 seconds. When done, have the group sit down in the circle and ask them to remember what ways they walked. Take each one and ask what kind of animals walk as though they had a rope attached to the various body parts. Ask for type of people that walk that way. If practical, have the partner write the list on the blackboard.

GROUP SHAPE

The aim is to make one abstract shape out of the whole group. One person goes into the centre of the circle and makes a shape with his body. Another person finds a way of adding herself into the existing shape in any way she likes. One at a time, the rest of the group come into the circle and become part of the group shape. Ask people to think about how their shape complements or contrasts with existing shapes. Encourage the use of different levels - low, medium and high. If you have a camera, it is often worth taking a photo of the finished shape.

 

Now ask everyone to become aware of exactly where they are in relation to everybody else, which parts of their body are in contact with other people or with the floor and how they are balanced. Everybody returns to their places around the circle. On a given signal every person moves in slow motion into the space at the same time to recreate the group shape as exactly as possible. Once the shape has been recreated ask if people feel that they are in exactly the same place as before. It is rare that they do.

 

 

ANIMAL FARM

Choose to be one of 3 animals. Practice making the right animal noises. Then all close eyes, make noises and try to get into groups, still with eyes shut, of your fellow species.

 

 

 

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

All the participants pair up.  Within each pair, one player (it doesn't matter who goes first) asks the other “What are you doing?" The second player responds by naming whatever action comes to mind, from "I'm building Frankenstein" to "I'm dancing in a ballet".  The both players perform whatever action was named together. The pair take turns naming activities for them to do. Both players should always be doing something physically.

 

WALK FOLLOWING

Players walk in a circle, all mimicking the walk of one player; then exaggerating it.

 

NUMBER CLUSTERS

Players are asked to get into groups of a certain number - three for example, as indicated by the instructor. Variations are introduced such as - move in slow motion, hop to the group, touch a wall or door first, each person in the group touch knees together, toes, elbows, backs, bottoms, etc.