Top Ten Drama Games

As I've worked as a classroom assistant in a youth theatre over my gap year, I've decided to share some of my favourite drama games that we use in our workshops!

1.  Zombie Penguin
Zombie Penguin is definitely the best drama game in the world. It's fun, it's fast and it's loud. 
How to Play:
Every child needs to grab a chair and they need to space them around the room and sit in them, facing all different directions. If you have any physically handicaped children, they can play too, by holding onto their chair instead of sitting in it. Then select one child and ask them to stand on the opposite side of the room. This child is the Zombie Penguin. Their object is to go across the room and reach their seat to sit down. However, being Zombie Penguin means they have to move as a Zombie Penguin, e.g. very slowly and waddling (I also encourage zombie noises! Braaiiiinnss...). The other children, however, are allowed to run as fast as they need to in order to prevent the Zombie Penguin from reaching the empty chair. This obviously then leaves their chair empty so you can see how it quickly dissipates into chaos! :-) If the Zombie Penguin reaches the chair then they are no longer the Zombie Penguin and you have to pick a new one.

2. Splat!
Splat is fast-paced and fantastic fun. 
Splat is played by getting all of the children to stand in a circle. The pick one child to stand in the middle. They are the Splatter. They then spin around and point at one of the children in the circle [the Splatee] and shout 'Splat!'. The Splatee bobs down and the children either side shout 'Splat!' whilst pointing their 'guns' (hands shaped to look like guns) at each other. The last one to shout 'Splat!' is out and has to sit down. If the Splatee does not bob down then they are out too. Keep playing until there are only two people left in the circle. Get the two children left to stand back to back in the middle of the circle. Choose a word which is their cue to 'Splat!' each other. Then choose a few other words that sound similar and as you say each word, have the children take on step forward, away from each other. When you finally say the cue word, the children will turn around and 'Splat!' each other. The one to 'Splat!' first wins!

3. The Party Game
This game is slightly more serious and encourages the children to develop their improvisation skills. 
The Party Game is played by setting up the room to look like a party setting. Then ask one child to volunteer to be the host of the party. They are then sent out of the room while you choose traits for each of the other children to portray. These can be things such as '...is in love with the host', 'is a pyromaniac', 'hates feet' 'is Paloma Faith' etc. etc. The host is then asked to come back in and start the scene. They set up their party and then each guest arrives one by one. The aim is for the children to act in accordance with their chosen traits so that the host can guess them. The host can ask as many questions as they like, but once they have guessed the trait, they must find a subtle way of dropping it into conversation, such as if someone is a fireman they could say 'Ah, do you like to put out fires?' Continue until all traits are guessed. Guests must be careful not to reveal their trait but saying anything too obvious.

4. Card Flipping
Fast-paced and fun. Good for teaching children about self-regulation.
This game involves a little prep beforehand. Before the session cut out equal number of red and green cards (you'll need more depending on the size of your group). Stick one red card to one green card and continue until you have a complete set of red/green cards. In the session, ask the children to split into two equal teams. Then place the cards on the floor, with an equal amount of red and green showing. Give each team a colour and then give them one minute to try and turn all of the cards to match their team's colour. A few rules: no hoarding cards, no picking cards off the ground and you can only turn one card at a time. The team with the most cards turned to their colour wins!

5. East Enders Zip Zap Boing
A twist on an old favourite.
Many of you will have heard of the drama game Zip Zap Boing, but this is a twist on it, invented by one of the tutors I worked with. To play this game, you get all of the children to stand in a circle and teach them these rules:
OI! - the children shout Oi! to their neighbour so that this passes around the circle (the equivalent to Zip in the original game) 
Get Out of My Pub! - to pass the 'Oi' across the circle, the children must shout 'Get out of my pub!' and point to the person they're trying to send it to. (the equivalent to Zap)
Shut it! - to prevent someone from passing the 'Oi' to you, then you shout 'Shout it!', this sends it round the other side of the circle.
Tequila! - If someone shouts this then everyone has to sing the tequila song and spin on the spot.
You Ain't My Muva! Oh Yes I am! - If someone shouts 'You ain't my muva', then the person they are yelling to has to yell back 'Oh yes I am!' The children then swap places in the circle and the child who shouted 'Oh yes I am!' starts the game again.
Wellard! - If someone shouts 'Wellard!', then all the children have to woof until someone shouts 'Wellard!' again.

6. Captain's Coming 
A very active fun game to play with younger kids. 
This game is played by having the children all face you. You then teach them these rules (much like Simon Says) to follow when you say these words:
Captain's Coming - the children salute you and have to remain still until you say Captain's Gone, at which point they say 'Phew' and can follow further instructions.
Climb the Rigging - the children mime climbing the rigging
Starboard - the children run SR
Port - the children run SL
Submarine - the children lie down on the floor with one leg in the air.
Shark Attack - the children lie down with their legs flailing in the air and screaming
Scrub the Floor - the children drop to the floor and mime scrubbing
Captain's Girlfriend - the children say 'oooh' or wolf whistle and do a "girlie" gesture (e.g. hand on hip)

7. Budge
A game of concentration and name learning.
The children either stand or sit in a circle. Select one to begin the game. They must gain eye contact with someone in the circle. Once they have done that they then say that child's name and 'Budge.' They then cross the circle slowly to take the child's place. The named child must then repeat this. If the original player reaches the named child before the named child has spoken, the named child is out.

8. Red Ball, Yellow Ball
A game great for building concentration skills in older pupils.
The children all stand in a circle. You begin by throwing an imaginary red ball around the circle. Once the pupils have got the hang of this, you introduce a different coloured ball. Keep adding balls as suited to the size of the group. At the end of the game, see if you have managed to keep one ball of each colour. Works better in larger groups.

9. The Concentration Game 
Quite complex and better with older groups. 
This game is similar to Red Ball, Yellow Ball. Start off by throwing a ball around the circle, making sure that every person in the circle only receives the ball once, but that everyone in the circle receives the ball. Remember this order. Then do the same thing, without the ball, but by saying names. Make sure the order is different to the first order. Then try to do them at the same time.

10. Who Killed King John?
Similar to President, President, but without the headache inducing thigh slapping. 
The children sit in a circle and you number them, with the last one being 'King John'. 'King John' starts by saying 'Who killed King John? Number....(picks number) killed King John.' The number they picked replies 'Not I' so King John asks 'Then who did kill King John' and the game continues. If someone replies too slowly or doesn't reply correctly, then they are out and their number no longer exists.

Hope these help!           

She's Leaving Home...

So here it is: my last few days at home before heading off this weekend to start my first year at Cambridge University.

I am very excited, but very nervous. I guess I should probably change the name of this blog!

I am currently sitting watching Downton Abbey with a blanket, my teddy bear and a warmed Beanie Buddy. And I am feel exhausted between the stress of moving, tying up loose ends and preparing for uni.

I've had books to read, grammar to revise, worksheets to complete, forms to fill in, packing to do, decisions to make...it's all been quite tiring really!

Anyway, that's all I have the energy for! Hopefully I'll be back with some insights into life as a Cambridge undergrad!