THEATRE GAME
Run in place, lean back, knees high. Stretch.
Children stand and stretch high, one arm up, then the other reach for the sky like you're climbing a rope, slowly. Bend knees high up, down. Bend one leg then the other: slowly, slow-ly, slowww-ly, fast, knees higher, faster, go, go, go! Stop! Shake hands, arms, legs and say: Shake your arms… very slowly, fast, faster, faster go, go, go! Stop! Freeze!
MATERIALS
You will need squares of different colors with the name of the color on it. If the paper is light construction,
fold it so it doesn't get too messed up in the passing.
Optional: Music that you can start and stop, otherwise you can say "Faster!" or "Keep going", then "Freeze!"
Children sit in a circle. Start with red, yellow, and green that they pass around any which way. Say Freeze! The students with the circles stand in the center, hold up their color with the word.
The group says the color and spells the words.
Add a few other colors, and so forth.
PHONICS and VERBS
Stack, Stem, Stick, Stop, Stub. Stall, Steam, Stink, Stoop, Stuck
Bean, Cream, Glean, Steam, Stream,
Green, Keen, Seen
(Been)
Tree, Three, Free, Bee, Gee, See, Be, Me
See - Sea
Conjugate
To go, To drive, To leave
(Please refer to the sample in Lesson Plan for more details)
MIME
Four actors sit on chairs set in a square as if they were in a vehicle. The educator or another student gives directions to the driver. Make a left, go straight. Red light, stop. Green. Go straight, turn right, a truck runs a stop sign, slam the brakes...
The movements of the four actors must be coordinated so we have the impression they’re moving. For example, when the driver brakes everyone has to lean forward then back to center. When the driver starts the car the actors must lean back. If the driver turns right, lean to the right, same with the left side. You may want to go over the movements first with the whole class.
Add the movements as the four actors go to the vehicle, open the doors, sit down, close the doors.
IMPROVISATION
Advanced
Same exercise as the mime above, except passengers speak while the driver is driving.
Make a list of things passengers could say: Look out! Stop! Bus! Bus! Make a right! Make a right! We're going to be late. I'm hungry...
You are driving Aunt Bertha, in the back seat with her dog, to her birthday party. You are lost and late, Bertha complains.
Add a policeman on a motorcycle. Ask directions. Bertha, in the back seat, complains and the dog barks (another actor offstage does the barking, whenever s/he wants). She starts talking personal stuff. You never could be on time, always behind on everything...
DIALOGUE
For young children
One child is the bus driver. Four or more children line up at the “bus stop”.
The first time around the bus driver doesn't stop and everyone yells: Stop!
When the driver comes around the second time the first child in line puts
his/her hand up, the driver stops and opens the door.
1– How much?
DRIVER– One dollar.
2– Here.
DRIVER– Thank you. Let’s go! (1 goes behind the Driver, holding on. They go around once)
2– How much?…
2 goes behind 1 and the Driver, they go around the class once...
WORD GAME
Tongue twister: I see the sea, do you see the sea? I don't see the sea, do you see the sea?
Draw a few waves under the word "Sea" and two eyes under the word "See". Write the sentences on the board without the words "see" and "sea" and have children fill in the spaces. Line children up and have them pass the questions along.
SONG
"The Wheels of the Bus"
Sing it faster the second time around, then start very slowly and end it very fast. The third time around it's very fast from the start and totally jumbled.
FORUM
The importance of rules: Why do we have rules? What happens when we don't follow them? What if we feel a rule is fundamentally wrong?
How can a rule be wrong? How can we go about changing?
The importance of being aware of one's surroundings. Check before walking into a room, and look around when you are on the street. Look both ways before crossing, and be sure nobody is making a turn and they don't see you. Pretend you're a detective and need to be observant.