Drama is an effective way of teaching, as it uses active learning styles likely to motivate and sustain the attention of a wider cross section of pupils. Activities can include role-play, drama games, improvisation, group discussion and individual or pair work. To begin with, you could use a couple of warm up activities which may not even use language, but will introduce the class to the enjoyment, participation and cooperation which is a natural part of drama activities. |
One-two-three
A fun introductory warm-up and concentration game. In pairs, face each other. Start counting from one to three between yourselves, over and over. Now each time you or your partner says "one", that person claps their hands. Then, whenever one of you says "three", bend your knees. It’s a bit like trying to pat your head and rub your stomach at the same time – in fact, you could try that afterwards!
A: "One" (Claps hands)
B: "Two"
A: "Three" (Bends knees)
B: "One" (Claps hands)
A: "Two"
B: "Three" (Bends knees)
A: "One" (Claps hands)
B: "Two"
A: "Three" (Bends knees)
B: "One" (Claps hands)
A: "Two"
B: "Three" (Bends knees)
Clap across the circle
The group sits or stands in a circle. One person begins by making eye contact with someone on the other side of the circle. Now they clap their hands and at the same time move their hands towards the other person as though they are throwing the sound across the circle. That person claps their hands a short distance away from their body as though catching the sound that the first person has made and simultaneously bringing their hands towards their body. If done well, the effect is as though an invisible ball has been passed across the circle. That person then makes eye contact with somebody else and claps towards them.
- It is important to make clear eye contact before you clap your hands towards somebody, otherwise no-one will know who you have in mind!
- If the group plays the game well, then it will really look and sound as though a ball is being passed around
- As a variation choose a category and each student should name an animal, a colour and so on.