Dramatic play-29

Did you know dramatic play yields a variety of benefits for students? Not only does it teach them to think creatively, but it can also enhance brain development in three key areas: communication, problem-solving and complex thinking. What’s more, it can give even the shyest students a sense of confidence. Below are four activities adapted from Summer Sizzlers & Magic Mondays: School-Age Theme Activities that you can use to start a drama club or simply add to your activity calendar. 

4 Drama Activities to Inspire Confidence and Creativity in Students

Before starting the activities, take time to teach students new vocabulary. As a budding actor, they will need to know and understand the following words:

  • Props
  • Scripts
  • Stage
  • Curtain call
  • Impromptu
  • Costumes
  • Make-up
  • Drama
  • Comedy
  • Scenes
  • Broadway

1. Acting Practice

Create an acting troupe and put students’ acting skills to the test!

What You Need:

What to Do:

Make an acting book by cutting interesting character pictures from a magazine, such as clowns, animals, Santa Claus, etc. Alternatively, you can find images online and print them.
When a picture is shown, the actors must act the part or copy the expression. This is a form of improvisation, or improv, that can help budding actors build confidence, courage and creativity.

2. Shadow Shifting

Challenge students to mirror their partner’s actions! This takes a lot of concentration and also brings out a lot of laughter!

What to Do:

Divide students into pairs and stand facing each other.
When one person moves, the other person (the shadow) moves in exactly the same way.
Start with the hands and arms and gradually work on facial expressions and more subtle moves.

3. Script Writing

This is a great way for students to improve their writing skills while learning an important part of acting. Have students come up with good plays based on plots centering around royalty, sunken treasure and desert islands. Let them write the play down, assign students to different roles, practice it and act it out! You will have fun seeing where their imaginations take them.

4. Perky Pirate

Pirates are one of the most recognizable characters in plays and movies. With this activity, students can make their own pirate costumes and act out their favorite pirate scenes.

What You Need:

Additional accessories like eye patches, gold clip earrings and bandannas

What to Do:

Have students use the black construction paper to make a pirate hat. Use this pirate hat template to cut out the shape. Then use white chalk to decorate the hat with a skull.
Punch a hole in both ends of the hat using the hole puncher.
Cut two pieces of string (about 12 inches each) for each side of the hat and loop it through each hole.
Then have students place the hat above their forehead and tie the strings together at the back of their head. Make sure it’s secure but not too tight.
For the sword, students will need to use the cardboard to cut out a sword shape and cover it in aluminum foil.
Once the hat and sword are finished, complete the costume with eye patches, gold earrings and bandannas!

For similar acting and drama activities, check out 3 Drama Games to Stimulate the Brain.