THEATRE GAMES: ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Learn each others names, and test memory skills, as a cast begins to work together as a team.

Students create stories and loosen up through making sounds to set the scene of the story described.

A fun way for students to develop and appreciate vocal projection.

A warm-up improv game starting with gift-giving, both literally and through strong offers.

The Night at the Museum meets physical characterization! The museum has come to life but don't let the night guards see you or you'll be removed from the display and sent to storage.

This activity builds cooperation and trust and is a great beginning activity for new casts and/or theatre groups.

This is an ice breaker game that really just helps the students get to know each other better and to further help the students develop social skills.

After selecting an index card notated with a simple sentence, a student will communicate the meaning of the sentence through the use of

nonsensical words, sounds, and/or pantomime- a fun way to learn how to express one’s self and specific thoughts without words.

"Duck, Duck, Goose" becomes an acting game when the "Goose" is replaced with anything the leader calls out.  A great game to break down inhibitions and introduce the concept of "always saying yes."

Handholding exercise used to facilitate a solid sense of ensemble.

Here is a great icebreaker game that students seem to love!  It's called "Neighbors"  The participants will stand in a circle.  One player is picked to be in the middle.  That person will approach a person in the circle, he will ask: "Do you like your neighbors?"  If the answer is no, the two people on either side of the person must switch places while the person who did the asking will attempt to take one of their spaces in the circle.  If the answer is "Yes, I like my neighbors" The person must then say "...but I don't like _________"  The _________ can be a silly yet appropriate choice such as "People who are wearing blue" or "People with open toed shoes".  At that point, all the people who are wearing blue or open toed shoes must switch places in the circle with someone else who has on blue or open toed shoes.  It's fun and a bit wacky. Gets people moving. 

YES! is a deceptively simple yet effective concentration and ensemble building game.  The game can be played with new groups or groups who know each other well.

This is an opening for long form improvisation.  It uses audience suggestion and the imagination and physicality of the players.   Actors become inanimate objects as well as people, physically creating a setting as well as characters.

Today you are not going to portray your character... you are going to become someone elses character. 

Students watch one another and imitate one another's physical actions.  The prompts for movement can be motivated or just fun improvisational.  Students can explore their physical instrument and expand the limits of their creativity.  (Also good for getting students (and directors!) to learn names of their fellow students.)

"Poison Peepers" is a variation of "Down/Up" and "Scream."  The big difference is that no one is eliminated.  It is a superb low-risk way to encourage vocal production and dramatic gesturing, and it's a lot of fun!

Actors identify the animal and/or song that their character represents or reminds them of.  This can be seen throughout the play and/or for curtain calls.

Actors are cast as families with last names that inform how the family is to be played.  A salesperson or neighbor comes to the door and must adjust according to the family type.

This energetic warm-up will get your group focused, listening, limber, and "ready to roll".

Ask students to form a circle.

Ask each student to come up with a word to describe their day so far.  For example, exciting, boring, etc.   After each student says his or her word, the whole group repeats it. 

Then, ask each student to come up with one action to go along with their word.  After each student's word and action, the whole group repeats the word and action. 

After going around the circle a couple of times.  Have one student arbitrarily go to another student and, while facing them, say his/her word with the action.  The student who was chosen then repeats the word and action back to the first actor - as in mirroring him/her.  The second student then goes and chooses another student arbitrarily and says his original word with action.  At first, you have only one person at a time meeting another student.  Then, as it progresses more students are called upon to take their words and actions to other actors.  It is a game of focus and memory.

Students establish a instant spirit of ensemble by clapping in unison with the person to their left or right depending on the directing of the clapping wave. 

This exercise allows students to create the characters, settings, and plots for their own improvisations. Depending on the age group, it is interesting to see how, inventive, humorous even silly, and/or dramatic the scenes can be.

To be the last student left to survive the “SUBJECT CHALLENGE”

To build team work and solidify concepts for any subject given in prompts for this "quest".

To mold students into shapes and have them use their creativity to name their creations.

To complete a scene in three minutes using the standard 3 point storyline.

Helps students become more comfortable with thinking on their feet, having the confidence to be creative and staying in the moment.

Engages two students in an improvisation that contains elements found in a well-written dramatic of comic scene containing conflict.

Articulation exercises relax the mouth and is good practice for an actor's voice and characterization.

A trial of memory and improvization, this game allows for creativity and on the spot contribution to complete the alphabet.

To develop improvisational skills, use creative imagination, analyze behavior and activities of others, and make appropriate dialogue choices by exchanging presents.

To get the class warmed up and in their bodies, while paying attention to their fellow participants.

A great warm up, to learn names of fellow cast members/classmates or to help build cooperation and teamwork.