THEATRE GAME: WHAT DID YOU SAY?

Instructions

Students sit on the floor in a semi-circle. One student volunteers to stand before the remaining group. He or she selects 1 pre-written index card from a stack of cards presented by the group leader/ teacher.

The student will communicate or act out to the observing students the meaning of the sentence that is printed on the card. The student cannot use any words of spoken language. He or she can, however, use nonsensical words, sounds, and/or pantomime to express the meaning of the printed sentence.

The observing students will raise their hands and try to guess the meaning of the sentence or message as conveyed by the acting student. While it doesn’t have to be the exact wording on the card, the attributed meaning should be as close to possible as the actual statement.

If, or after it’s obvious that no one can guess the sentence meaning, the selected student will read the card to the observing students. The teacher or group leader will ask the class for suggestions on how the selected student might have communicated its meaning more successfully.

The game continues until everyone has had his or her turn as the message-performer.

Examples of sentences on index cards:

I love playing video games.

This milk tastes sour.

I’m thirsty.

I’m hungry.

I have a toothache.

I have a headache, a stomach ache, and an earache.

It’s raining cats and dogs!

I’m sooo sleepy.

I can’t sleep!

My shoes are tight.

I can’t find my eyeglasses.

Where is my cell phone?

I missed the bus.

Stop yelling at me!

Have you seen my dog?

Smoking is not allowed in here.

I feel seasick.

I love eating spaghetti.

I’m lost.

I love getting a manicure.