Short drama activities are a good way to start off, end off, fill in time and bring fun to a classroom. In preference to usual party games, a drama game can be used as an alternative for typical group games in social settings.
Why Drama Activities Enhance Creativity and Fun
Drama allows participants to “become someone else” and through the new persona act out in a way that a particular individual usually wouldn’t dare. So often it is noticed that a very shy person in real life evolves into an out-going character while acting.
Props in the Language and Drama Classroom
Added to the new persona, the use of props serves as a means through which a character develops. Costumes, masks, uniforms or a prop such as a sword, walking stick or glasses immediately enables the character to add aspects to the act. A child, for example, will pick up a pair of adult glasses and suddenly act as an older person, nutty professor, cool guy or someone else that comes to mind. If an adult were given a pacifier as a prop, they would probably change into a baby-like character, or motherly figure perhaps changing their voice to enhance their character.
Below are some ideas that can be used in classrooms or with social groups.
Ideas for Drama Activities:
Who Am I?: Place a variety of props in a box or spread onto the room floor. One at a time each participant has to choose one item, decide on who he/she is, wear it or use it in some way, and the group has to guess who the character is. For example, someone choosing an eye mask may be Superman, or a bank robber.
I don’t believe it: Place a large paper bag in the center of the room. Each participant has a turn to go up to the bag, look inside, and say “I don’t believe it!” The participant says this in any way appropriate to the imaginary item he/she is seeing in the bag.
Dialog skit: Divide the group into pairs. Give a topic, such as “At the supermarket counter” or “Two baby toys talking to each other”, and each set of pairs have to prepare an amusing skit based on this topic. As a language teacher it is a recommended to keep a book of personal fun ideas for the classroom to use when topics for skits, writing or other activities are needed.
If John were an animal: This is a game in which people in the group are given an animal persona. This can be done in a round. For example, If John were an animal he would be a giraffe because he is so tall. The next student may add, “If John were an animal he would be a cat because he is so curious.” Depending on the group, age, and personality of the class, this game could or should not be used. Very young kids may insult others or competitive individuals in a group may too. It is a really good game but caution is suggested when choosing it.
ABC Conversation: The idea is that each new sentence in an impromptu conversation starts with the following letter of the alphabet. The teacher can start a conversation like this: April is a lovely month. The next person in the round has to start the following sentence with a "B."
- April is a lovely month.
- Beautiful, I think.
- Clearly, June is much nicer.
- Dare I say, August?
- Even if you say August, I don’t agree.
This kind of conversation can be used at a very sophisticated party, social group get together, English classroom and even ESL level lesson. To add a dramatic flair to the conversation, have the students say their lines with gestures, attitude, and unusual accents or in character to enrich the sentences.
Drama activities are memorable and fun. Adding energy to a classroom through dramatic exercises keeps lessons interesting and upbeat.
Lucille Lever - Creative teaching ideas can be incorporated into any kind of lesson. As a teacher of ESL and creative drama for more than 30 years, in a ...
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