Five Engaging Drama Games to Grab Your Students’ Attention
Summer is such a wonderful time for our teachers. Time for them to rest, recuperate and have some fun! It is very richly deserved. But I often considered subjects such as drama games to grab your students’ attention. Here are five engaging drama games to grab your students’ attention.
But before you know it, it will be August and the first school bell for the 2021-2022 year will ring. Until then, SAVE THIS BLOG POST and check it out later.
Folks who are just beginning to teach often ask me what they might need for their classroom. Since I taught for thirty-eight years, I am very experienced with many materials and can recommend some to you which are dynamite to own.
A card game sharpening one’s imagination
#1 Nannoficitionary
Nannofictionary is a storytelling game in three rounds.
The first round involves the construction of the stories, in which players race to collect the four plot elements of setting, characters, problem, and resolution. In the next round, the players tell their stories. After that, the players vote on which were the best stories, with additional votes being added by judges on the sidelines.
Nannofictionary is most suitable for grades 8 and up.
I would suggest you purchase several copies of this game for your classroom. It could be used most anytime–as a filler, cool down or warm-up for the day or for a lesson.
I especially like its non-threatening nature (students select cards for their story.) The opportunities for differentiation are vast. Cost is $15.59
Something Physical
Check out my recent Facebook Live with Deb, the Storyteller to hear other exercises for engaging students. Facebook Live
#2 Body Sox
I learned about Body Sox while receiving my Masters in Arts Integration. Although somewhat expensive, Body Sox are a great addition to your classroom. Here’s what Amazon.com says about them:
“This stretchable body wrap carefully and comfortably covers your child’s arms, shoulders, legs, and feet in a calming fabric that provides deep pressure stimulation.
Ideal for kids with ADHD, autism, or other spatial sensory challenges, the Special Supplies sensory body socks can help your child regain a sense of balance and clarity when overwhelmed.
Superior to standard dynamic movement sensory body socks that feature Velcro that comes undone or pulls hair, ours features a safety snap that holds tight without discomfort.
Crafted with a cool Lycra material, these stretchy sensory sacks wraps come in three distinct sizes and three fun colors to better match adults, teens, boys and girls of all ages.” Cost is $15.00
My students have explored movement using Body Sox. We even included them as part of a play, portraying statues in Oji San and the Grateful Statues unit. You can check out the unit at: Oji San and the Grateful Statues.
Five Engaging Drama Games to Grab Your Students’ Attention
#3 Be a Broadway Star Board Game
Have a small class and want to do some quiet activity?
Again, from Amazon: “Be a Broadway Star – the brand new board game that puts YOU in the spotlight! This isn’t your typical board game.
This is a Broadway board game! And that means you’ll have lots of chances to show off your stuff along the way, with interactive “make or break” cards that just might have you singing and dancing on your turn! Just remember, at the end of the game, whoever has the most fans wins! Can you make it all the way to the Broadway Hall of Fame? Find out today when you play Be A Broadway Star, the brand new board game for Broadway theater lovers of all ages. ” Cost is $39.99
At the time, I had several small classes in a home school enrichment program through St. Vrain School District. This game was perfect for a day after a big project or performance. Students learn value information from the game, how an actor hustles for performing gig, etc.
#4 Uberplay Shakespeare “The Bard” Game
If you teach middle and high school students, this is a wonderful board game for them to play. It’s just fascinating.
As a Elizabethan theater entrepreneur in the early 1600’s, your goal is to “pack the house”. In particular, the chase is on to acquire scripts from the greatest living playwright of the time, Will Shakespeare.
To stage these extraordinary dramas, you will need to form a company of actors, acquire all the props that the play requires, find a patron, and acquire large sums of money to enable these productions to go ahead. Every step of the way, the Fates will either help or hinder! * Board * Player Markers (5) * Player Acclaim Markers (5) * Fate Cards (80) * Question Cards and Speech Cards (300) * Tiles: o Scripts (40 large tiles) o Actors (48 square tiles) o Props/Wardrobe (40 circular tiles) o Patrons (10 hexagonal tiles) * Money (30 x 1 shilling, 50 x 5 shillings, 30 x 10 shillings) * 2 Six Sided Dice with Fate Symbol * Rules Booklet
This game ranges in cost of $25.00 on Ebay to $100 elsewhere. I don’t know why there is such a discrepancy in the price, but my guess is it is no longer published.
If you can get your hands on a copy of this game, it is worth the price. My students LOVED it!
Five Engaging Drama Games to Grab Your Students’ Attention
#4 Brain Box Shakespeare 10 Minute Brain Challenge
I have not played this game, but I have a feeling it would be very helpful in an Language Arts class studying Shakespeare’s plays. It is called Brain Box Shakespeare 10 Minute Brain Challenge.
According to the publisher, Shakespeare Brain Box game is:
- Each of these stunningly illustrated cards includes a quotation as well as a caption explaining the scene. Put in order, the captions tell the outline of each story.
- The plays included are A Midsummers Night’s Dream, Hamlet, Julius Caesar, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest and Twelfth Night.
- Fun and Learning
- Visual Memory Game
- 1 or more players
Cost is $27.98.
#5 101 Drama Games for Children: Fun and Learning with Acting and Make-Believe.
I don’t own this book at the moment, but I know I’ll be purchasing it again soon. It’s terrific help!
From the publisher, “Drama games are not staged plays but a dynamic form in which children explore their minds and the world around them. They can use their play-acting in sensory games, pantomimes, story games with puppets, in creating masks and costumes, and much more.
Drama games allow children to get more in touch with themselves and what they want to be, and are a delightful way to discover the freedom, creativity, and expression of acting- and living.
The SmartFunActivity series encourage imagination, social interaction, and self-expression in children. “
Cost is $13.79
Have you used these games in your classroom? You know, you don’t need to be a drama teacher to use these. Every student will appreciate them. If not, they wouldn’t still be out there to purchase after all these years. Remember, I told you I’ve been teaching forever. If you’d like some free warm up games, check out DramaMommaSpeaks Theatre Guide
Here is free stuff for you: Free Stuff!
I hope you’ll try these games and book. If you do, please contact me with your thoughts about them at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net
