ACTIVITY

FILE
Ashley Leitschuh
12/2/13
Theatre for Educators

Ashley Leitschuh
12/1/13
Theatre for
Educators

EXPLODING ATOMS
Brief description: The facilitator will
make a subjective statement and the
participants will express their level of
agreement in the exploding atom
Purpose: To encourage
participants to express their
opinion in a judge free zone and to
get to know one another.
Theatre TEKS: First grade
(1.1) Perception develop spatial
awareness in dramatic play
using expressive and rhythmic
movement
SFS: The facilitator gives a
welcoming environment where
there is no judgment.
Cross Curricular: This game can
be used as a review when the
facilitator makes a statement and

PUPPET PROBLEM

Brief Description: Use puppets

(they can be homemade or storebought) to have the student act out
math problems that are written on
the board.
Purpose: To make math less
mundane and boring.
TEKS:
(1.2) Assume roles through imitation.
SFS: Tell them when to start and
stop. Lead them through the activity.

NAME GAME
Brief description: Participants will stand in
a circle facing inside. Each player will choose
an adjective that begins with the first letter
of their name. Next, each player will think of
a gesture or movement that corresponds to
their adjective. One at a time, each player
says their name and demonstrates their
gesture. Continue until everyone has had a
turn.
Purpose: Familiarize participants with one
anothers names, build ensemble and
introduce creative expression through
movement.
Theatre TEKS: second grade
(2.1) Perception: expand spatial awareness in dramatic
play using expressive and rhythmic movement

SFS: Facilitator plays with the group and

models the activity. By allowing participants
to help one another in coming up with
adjectives and gestures. In the beginning
name tags may be used to help players

I LIKE
PEOPLE
Brief description: While standing in a circle,
one player stands in the center and states
something that they like. (ex. I like people that
like green) And if anyone in the circle likes what
the person stated they move into another
space. The last standing will become the new
center and repeat the process.
Purpose: The purpose is to release energy in a
structured environment. Allows blood to flow
and gives oxygen to your brain. Also allows the
students to get to know one another.
Theatre TEKS:
2.2)Creative expression/performance:
demonstrate safe use of movement and voice
SFS: The facilitator can do the first few rounds
relieving the stress that the students may have
when standing in front of others.

COMIC STRIP
STORY
Brief Description: Have students
split into 5 different groups. Have
them act out snapshots of a story
from any subject youre discussing.
Examples are the Boston Tea Party, 3
Little Pigs and The Hungry Caterpillar.
Purpose: To give students a different
perspective on usual 2D stories.
TEKS:
(2.1) Role play, imitate and recreate
dialogue.
SFS: Give them multiple examples of
stories that would be suitable to use.

PEOPLE TO
PEOPLE
Brief description: The students are paired
off, the facilitator will state two body parts
(elbow and foot) and the students have to
connect those two body parts together.
Purpose: To understand the various body
parts, and to practice hand eye coordination
and balance.
Theatre TEKS:
(3.2)Creative expression/performance:
demonstrate safe use of movement
SFS: The facilitator will discuss what is
appropriate and what is not.
Cross Curricular: Can be used a review for
the body parts or the orientation of body
parts (left, right)

FELT BOARD
Brief Description: This uses
individual pictures made of felt. You
put down a large piece of felt and tell
a story putting down one picture at a
time. Laminate the pictures youll use
and glue felt to the backs.
Purpose: To make storytelling more
engaging for the students.
TEKS:
(1.1) Imitate actions and sounds.

SFS: Buy two identical books and use

one to read and the other to cut out
pictures for your board.

LITTLE MISS
MUPPET

Brief Description: The facilitator will read a

Nursery Rhyme and the students will then
identify the protagonist and antagonist in
the story. The facilitor will then set up the
exhibition (backstory) and the students will
then use tableau to reenact the story.
Purpose: This activity will help students
identify characters in a story that is being
read to them
Theatre TEKS: (2.2D) Creative
expression/performance- create
dramatizations of limited-action stories,
using simple pantomime and puppetry
SFS: The facilitator can show the students
an example of tableau by demonstrating
Little Miss Muffet sitting on her tuffet.

GROUP JUGGLING
Brief description: In small group circles
students will look at another student, state
their name, and pass a small stuffed
animal at them. The person who recives
the object will repeat the sequence to
another student. The last person to receive
the animal will return it to the first person
creating a circle passing the animal around.
Purpose: Helps with focusing, listening
skills, hand eye coordination and memory.
Theatre TEKS:
(2.1)Perception: expand spatial awareness
in dramatic play, using expressive and
rhythmic
movement
SFS: The facilitator can make the game
more difficult by having the students pass
the animal in reverse order, so that the last
person will pass it back to the person who
tossed it to them and there forth.

SOUND PASS
Brief description: In small group circles students
will go around in clockwise order making a sound.
The first person will turn to their left make their
sound the person to the left of them will repeat
the sound back to them and continue by turning
to their left and continuing the cycle until
everyone in the circle has made a sound.
Purpose: To warm-up the body and voice, help
the students become more relaxed and energized.
Theatre TEKS:
(2.2)Creative expression/performancedemonstrate safe use of movement and voice
SFS: The facilitator uses smaller groups so that all
the students are able to participate and enjoy the
activity and the pressure is not as intense when it
is their turn.

DETAIL
CHANGE
Group the students into partners. Have partner A close
their eyes while partner B changes one thing about
themself. Partner A then opens up his/her eyes and tries to
find what was changed. Switch partners and do it again.
Keep doing this as many times as you have time for. Switch
partners often in order to have students meet other
classmates they may have not worked with before. Make it
more complex by changing subtle things about you, like
having your shoelace untied or your hand in a different
place.
The purpose of this activity is to:
1. Enhance observation skills.
2. Warm up before lessons.
3. Allow students to work with students they wouldnt
normally talk too.
Theatre TEKS Grade 5
(5.3) Alter space appropriately to create a suitable
environment
SFS: Demonstrate the activity for the class with a
volunteer to show them exactly how they should approach
the activity. This way they wont be confused about what is
expected of them.

MACHINE
S
Brief description: Think of a
machine you would like invented
(like a money making machine) and
each person moves and makes
sounds as separate parts of the
machine. Move as a whole and
continue noises and movements
until every part is added and theres
lots of movements and noises.
Purpose: To encourage teamwork in
the classroom.
TEKS:
(1.3 D) Cooperate with others in dramatic
play.

SFS: Demonstrate for the students.

SCULPTURE GARDEN
Brief description: Divide the class into pairs.
In each pair, one student is the "sculptor" and
one the "clay. The sculptor "sculpts" his or her
partner's body into a statue of his or her
choosing. The sculptor may do this by physically
moving the partner's body into position, or by
showing the "clay" how to stand. When the
"sculpture" is finished, she or he freezes. (It the
position is difficult or impossible to hold, the
"sculpture" may memorized it and then relax
until her or his turn in the "tour" arrives.
Purpose: It gives every child a chance to shine
and be the star in two very different ways.
Theatre TEKS: Second grade
(2.1) Perception expand spatial awareness in
dramatic play
SFS: Facilitator demonstrates what is to be
expected so the participants have a clear
understanding of what is to be done. The
facilitator will set boundaries of what is
appropriate and what is not when molding the
clay.

SHAKE
WARMUP

Brief description: Stand in a circle and ask

for a number between 5-10. Shake your arms
and legs each that number of times. After,
you will shake 6 to 5 to 4 etc.
Purpose: To get the giggles/tensions out
before class starts.
TEKS:
(1.2) Demonstrate safe use of movement and
voice.

SFS: Use this on days when you have a new

student or on the first day of school

DOCTOR,
DOCTOR
Brief description: The class breaks
up into groups of at least five. The groups
gathers in a circle and crosses their right
arm over their left arm and then grabs
another players hand (it must be the hands
of two different people). Then the groups
chant together Doctor, Doctor please come
quick! I need help! Im in a fix! and begin to
try to untangle themselves. The designated
doctor (usually the teacher) goes from
group to group
Purpose: Team building and problem
solving.
Theatre TEKS: fourth grade
- (3.2 A) Creative
expression/performance- demonstrate
safe use of movement and voice
SFS: The facilitator moves from group
to group, sidecoaching.

STORY
DRAMATIZATION

Brief description: The facilitator will read a

short folk tale (ex. Three Little Pigs) , the
students will identify what is the beginning,
middle and end. Split into small groups the
students will act out each part of the story
through the use of pantomime or
improvisation.
Purpose: To give the students a kinesthetic
tool that can help them identify the begging,
middle and end to a story.
Theatre TEKS:
(3.2)Creative expression/performance:
dramatize literary selections, using
pantomime and imitative dialogue
SFS: The facilitator allows he students to
use their own creativity to design how they
will act the beginning, middle and end of the
story.

GOOD FEELINGS

Brief Description: The students will

think of adjectives that are good and
act them out using tableau in groups.
(Happiness=Smiling really big)
Purpose: The purpose of this activity
was to help students express and
identify different adjectives
Theatre TEKS: (K.1D Perception)
imitates and recreates objects in
dramatic play
SFS: The teacher can have the
students act out different adjectives
within their same groups.

WHAT COULD IT BE?

Brief description: The facilitator will

divide the class into small groups.
The groups will be given an inanimate
object (ex. White board eraser) and
one at a time each student will think
of an object that the object can be
without doing the purpose it was
meant to have. The other students
will have to guess what object the
student has decided.
Purpose: Allows the students to use
their imagination and think creatively.
Theatre TEKS:
(3.1)Perception: react to sensory and emotional
experiences

SFS: The facilitator can allow passes

so the students have a relief in the

GAME CHANGER
TABLEAU

Brief Description The tracer can have the

students draw a picture of a bully experience
that they have endured or someone who they
know has been bullied. The students will then
act out the scene and during the second
round; they can change something about the
situation to make it better.
Purpose: The purpose of this activity is to help
students discover ways that they can help
change a situation for the better that they or
someone they know might be in.
Theatre TEKS (4.1F) Perception: represent
environment, characterization and actions.
SFS: The teacher can have the students go to
the board to put up their ideas of great
changers and have the group of students
reflect on the options on the board.

WHAT ARE YOU

DOING?

Brief description: The class would be

divided into groups. Each group will stand in
a circle and face each other. The first person
will think of an activity and act it out. The
person to the left of them will ask the
person, What are you doing? The person
doing the activity will respond with an
activity they are not doing. Then the person
to the left of the 2 nd person will ask What
are you doing? and the cycle will continue
until everyone has had a turn.
Purpose: Allows the students to think
quickly on their feet and think about prior
experiences to help them act out their
activity.
Theatre TEKS:
(4.1)Perception: imitate and synthesize life experiences
in dramatic play

SFS: The facilitator can limit the activities to

a certain category. (ex. Summer activities or

TELLING IT

Brief description: The class divides into

pairs. Each has to think of a story to tell the
other--for example, the plot of a recent TV
play or film they have seen. At a signal
from the teacher, they both start telling
each other the story at the same time.
They must look at each other in the eye
without looking away, and they must keep
talking without a break and without
laughing. If either breaks down, the other
has "won.
Purpose: To exercise the use of control an
actor must have when acting out on a
stage.
Theatre TEKS:
(4.1)Perception.: express emotions and ideas, using
interpretive movements, sounds, and dialogue

SFS: The facilitator gives the students

choice when deciding what to talk about in
their conversation with their partner.

ELECTRICITY
Brief description: The class will sit in two
halves of a circle but aren't connected to
make a circle, the person in the middle shall
be the light. The light will stand up while
everyone else is sitting. The students on the
ground will hold hands with each other. The
people at the end will squeeze the hand of the
person next to them and so forth down the
line. When the squeeze reaches the light hey
will ding and by the show of hands tell which
side made it first.
Purpose: To show the students in a
kinesthetic learning model of how the flow of
electricity works.
Theatre TEKS:
(2.1)Perception: react to sensory experiences

SFS: The facilitator may challenge the two

lines in a race to see which one can turn on
the light faster.
Cross Curricular: A great tool to use when
teaching about electricity.

CHA-CHING
MACHINE

Brief Description: The teacher will split class into

groups with only 3 people in them. One of the
players will be the machine and the other 2 will be
the operators of the machine. The two operator will
display a number 0-5 on their hand and then the
machine will symbolize a sign (+,-, x). The operators
will then have to figure out the answer of their two
numbers and the sign and be the first to answer the
problem. You will rotate the students out.
Purpose: Help the students learn how to do math
problems with different signs and to think on their
toes quickly.
Theatre TEKS: (3.3D) Creative
Expression/performance- cooperates and interacts
with others in dramatic play
SFS: Add a challenge to the students by increasing
the numbers to 0-10.

HALLOWEEN
SHAPES

Brief description: Teacher

calls out Halloween themed items
such as werewolf, witch, or bat. Then
the students must create a tableau of
the item named.
Purpose: Allows students to
think creatively.
Theatre TEKS: First grade
-(1.2 B) Creative
expression/performance: assume
roles through imitation
SFS: Teacher helps students
by demonstrating.

MIRROR MIRROR
Brief description: Everyone takes a
partner. (If there is an odd number, the
teacher pairs with someone.) Partners
stand facing each other, about three feet
apart. One is the leader, the other, the
"mirror." Moving only from the waist up, the
leader begins to make simple gestures or
movements. The "mirror" duplicates the
leader's movements exactly--just as a
mirror would.
Purpose: To focus on slow and precise
movements. Making each move clean, and
to keep focus by looking into their partners
eyes.
Theatre TEKS:
(2.1)Perception: expand spatial awareness in dramatic play

SFS: The facilitator will have to enforce that

mirroring each other is doing the opposite
move so it looks like you are looking at a
mirror.

ZIP ZAP
ZOP(WOO!)

Brief Description :This warm-up

prepares the body and the voice.
Stand in a circle and with hands in
prayer say Zip, zap, zop
passing it from one person to another
in the circle. Try and go as fast as you
can without tripping over your words.
Use smaller groups to make it more
difficult.
Purpose: To warm up the body and
the voice.
TEKS:
(1.2) Demonstrate safe use of movement and
voice.

SFS: Make sure to play with them

and give examples so they know how
to play.

WERE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT

Brief Description: Sing the Were

Going on a Bear Hunt with
movements while everyone is in a big
circle. Break up into groups of 6 and
act out different enviornments.
Purpose: Warm up the body and the
brain before difficult lessons.
TEKS:
(4.2) Demonstrate safe use of the body and
the voice.

SFS: Great for a cross-curricular

lesson on geography.

EMOTIONAL
ORCHESTRA
Brief description: Small groups of at
least 3 are formed and each group comes up
with an emotion (i.e. frustrated, happy, sad,
or angry). Then the group must come up with
a sound to match that emotion. The teacher
then conducts each group making them
come in and out and get louder and softer.
Purpose: Helps students understand
what emotions can sound like, and helps
students express emotions.
Theatre TEKS: fourth grade
- (4.1 D) Perception)- express
emotions and ideas, using interpretive
movements, sounds, and dialogue
Modifications: Each person can think
of an emotion, instead of each group.

LEMONADE

Brief Description: The teacher will divide the

students into groups and then the groups will
decide on two major cities within a chosen state.
The students will then have to decide within
their group on an action to perform that would
symbolize the city and have the rest of the class
guess what city they are acting out.
Purpose: The purpose of this lesson was to
assist students in learning geography and the
major cities within states.
Theatre TEKS: (2.2C) Creative
expression/performance- demonstrate safe use
of movement and voice
SFS: The facilitator can offer assistance with
states that the students arent familiar with and
they can also encourage students to branch out
from surrounding states in order to learn more
about the rest of the United States .

SPRINKLER

Brief Description: Act out a sprinkler

and then graph (physically) with
bodies different types of sprinklers in
the classroom.
Purpose: This exercise can help the
students learn the different types of
graphs and learn what type of data
would be used for each graph.
Theatre TEKS: (1.3D) Creative
Expression/performance- cooperates
and interacts with others in dramatic
play
SFS: You can graph other types of
data such as a percentage for older
students and have them make a pie
chart with each other.

COOKIE JAR WARMUP

Participants will sit in a circle and sing the song Who Stole
the Cookie from the Cookie Jar. Sing number
1,2,3,4,5,6,etc. stole the cookie from the cookie jar/(who
me), yes you,(not me), then who? Number 1,2,3,4,5,6,etc.
stole the cookie form the cookie jar. This song will continue
until everyone in the circle has been accused. You can
include a clapping rhythm to keep the steady beat going
throughout the game if you would like. You can also speed it
up or slow it down to make it more challenging depending
on the age group youre working with.
The purpose of this activity is to:
1.Get the students thinking about numbers in preparation
for a math lesson.
2.Build complexity.
3.Eliminate anxiety among classmates.

Theatre TEKS Grade 5

(5.1) Perception
Respond too sounds, music, images, and the written word,
using movement.
SFS: Demonstrate the lesson and teach the song pattern a
couple of times until they feel comfortable enough to
continue on their own. Play with them.

MYSTERY BOX

Brief Description: The teacher will have the

students pair up and they will stand facing
one another. Partner A will pretend to have
box in their hand and they will hand it to
Partner B. Partner B will then open the box
and proceed to do an action while Partner
A guesses on what the action was.
Purpose: The purpose of this activity is to
get student to think outside of the box and
on the spot.
Theatre TEKS: (1.3D) Creative
expression/performance: cooperate with
others in dramatic play.
SFS: The teacher can have the students
use no sound or add sound to the activity.

MATH CHEERS

Have students get into groups of roughly 8. They

will make up cheers to pre-written math cheers
written by the instructor. Assign one to each group
or let them choose. They can do any kind of cheer
they want, as long as it is safe and within the set
boundaries. Have them perform for each other after
theyre given adequate time to prepare.
The purpose of this activity is to:
1. Get students thinking about numbers before a
math lesson.
2. To encourage teamwork.
Theatre TEKS Grade 1
(1)Creative expression/performance

Cooperate with others in dramatic play

SFS: This could be modified for a cross curricular
lesson plan, such as history or English or science.
This would work well incorporated into almost every
subject.