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Games & Exercises

Quick activities. Real results.

Find low-prep drama exercises that build skills, boost participation, and fit into any class.

Classroom Exercise

Exercise: The Tech Effect

The purpose of this group exercise is to see how technical effects can change the mood and atmosphere of a performed scene. Students will have the opportunity to perform and observe others, while...
Classroom Exercise

Distance Learning: Larger Projects and ISPs

The exercises listed below can be adapted to distance and online learning opportunities. Students work individually (rather than with partners or in groups). Group work and discussions can be...
Classroom Exercise

Tech Exercises for the Non-Technical Teacher

The phrase “technical theatre” can be intimidating for some drama teachers. They may feel that they don’t have adequate experience to teach technical theatre, or that they just aren’t “tech-y”...
Classroom Exercise

Vocal and Physical Performance Exercises

The exercises listed below can be adapted to distance and online learning opportunities. Students work individually (rather than with partners or in groups). Group work and discussions can be...
Classroom Exercise

Exercise: Year-End Reflection

We always ask our drama students to reflect on their experiences, and for good reason. Reflecting helps students gain a deeper understanding of the lessons taught, skills learned, and experiences...
Classroom Exercise

Exercise: Effective Peer Feedback

Do your students know how to give effective peer feedback? If not, they may not know what that actually looks like. If they don’t know what effective peer feedback is, how can they benefit from...
Classroom Exercise

Exercise: Found Objects

This simple classroom scene exercise challenges students to not only prepare a scene for a staged reading performance, but to also include a variety of theatrical “extras” using items found in the...
Classroom Exercise

Rehearsal Warm-Up Game: Switching Roles

Here’s a warm-up game you can try at your next rehearsal: Switching Roles. Students will use an improv game to take on a different part in the play you’re currently working on. It’s a simple enough...
Classroom Exercise

Rehearsal Exercise: Turn Up the Volume

Acting is supposed to be real, right? We talk with our students about bringing honesty and realness to the stage when they are performing. With that in mind, however, how often have you heard...
Classroom Exercise

Character Development Game: What’s For Breakfast?

This is a simple and fun improvised game that is great to use in your show rehearsals. I’ve found it’s especially useful for younger, newer, or shyer students, who might be afraid of looking silly...
Games & Exercises

Making Assumptions About Characters

An assumption is when someone accepts something as true about a person, place, thing, or idea without proof. People do this all the time, often without thinking. We assume all sorts of things about...
Classroom Exercise

Taking Away the Script: A Game

It’s easy for students to get hyper-focused on their lines when they’re working on a scene or on a show – counting how many lines they have, memorizing the lines, knowing what order the lines come...
Classroom Exercise

Exercise: Student-Led Warm-Up Games

Student-led warm-up games are a great way for students to demonstrate what they’ve learned in drama class and apply it in a practical setting, as well as to develop their leadership skills....