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A creative drama resource for teachers and others working with youth!

Drama Games

What are Drama Games?

Drama Games are games and activities that use drama to create community, build trust, expand imagination, and develop the whole student. Many camps, churches, and community centers use games as a means of entertainment and community building. Drama games do the same, but often in ways that work the voice, body, and imagination to prepare the participants for a creative drama activity.

Why should my students use Drama Games?

Drama Games help focus student learning. They also access multiple learning styles (visual, auditory, and kinesthetic) simultaneously. Games present a fun and interactive way to make a point or to work on skills. Games set the stage for learning, or deepen a context and emphasize the symbolic in creative drama and other classroom learning.

Where do Drama Games fit into my curriculum?

Anywhere! Many areas and topics can be broached by using drama games. Since there is such a wide variety of games that one may use in the classroom, the sky's the limit! There are many games that involve role play and specific curricular goals simultaneously.

How do I start?

Begin by introducing your students to simple games that they may know already, like Red Light, Green Light, or another age-appropriate game. When you build a sense of community and trust, you may choose to move on to more exploratory games, or games which involve personal risk taking.

What do Drama Games look like in a lesson plan?

Using Games in a lesson may look something like this:

Play the game Lines of Five (Augusto Boal, Games for Actors and Non-Actors, p.97)
Ask the students to get into lines of five people each. Ask the first person in a line to do a movement and a sound, in rhythm. Ask the rest of the line join in. The first person goes to the back of the line, and the next person repeats the first person's motion and adds their new gesture and sound to what the first person was doing. The line joins in. The second person goes to the end of the line Continue until everyone has been in front, and there is a series of five motions and sounds.

What educational standards are met by Drama Games ?

The educational standards met by drama games are very social-oriented. Most games assist in your lesson plans by preparing or helping students reach a concept, rather that meeting a specific standard by playing a game. There are multitudes of standards that can be accessed through drama games, but need your sidecoaching to develop a clear connection.

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