The Acting Game
This is inspired by an interview I saw with Dakota Johnson on Jimmy Fallon’s television show; see the video below:
First present the game and give instructions to the whole class. Best not to show the video, but maybe act it out yourself, with the help of a volunteer.
INSTRUCTIONS:
We are going to play a game called “The acting game”. You will be working in pairs. You take turns picking a card and reading different scenarios. Your classmate must then act out how he or she would react to this particular phone call. Try to speak for at least one minute. You can go through the cards several times, so that each of you gets a chance to act out all the scenarios.
Seat the students in pairs and place the printed cards on the desks, face down.
Duration: 10 - 15 minutes, plus revision.
Card 1: Your mum calls you to tell you that she is locked out of the house and has no key. You are in school. Go!
Card 2: Your friend calls you to tell you that she really loved the chocolate chip cookies your mum baked for your birthday and she wants to have the recipe. Go!
Card 3: Your dad calls you from his car. You can't really hear what he is saying, but you try to guess. Go!
Card 4: Your best friend calls you to tell you that she/he kissed someone that you also really like. Go!
Card 5: The principal at your school calls your house to tell your parents all about the naughty things you have done in school. You pick up the phone, panic, and pretend that you are your mum. Go!
Card 6: Someone you don't know calls and says they need some information for a paper they are writing. They ask for your e-mail password, bank account number, and other personal things. Go!
At the end, ask the students what they thought of the game. Was it easy to (re)-act? Ask them which one they thought was the funniest to do?
The Colbert Questionairet
This is inspired by a now famous interview technique developed by the crew at Stephen Colbert's Late Show. See, for example, the interview with Keanu Reeves - according to Colbert, the main inspiration for writing this questionnaire.
And here are a lot more if you wish to chose another: The Colbert Questionairet
The questions are available online:
How would you answer "The Colbert Questionert?"
Best sandwich?
What's one thing you own that you really should throw out?
What is the scariest animal?
Apples or oranges?
Have you ever asked someone for their autograph?
What do you think happens when we die?
Favorite action movie?
Favorite smell?
Least favorite smell?
Exercise: worth it?
Flat or sparkling?
Most used app on your phone?
You get one song to listen to for the rest of your life: what is it?
What number am I thinking of?
Describe the rest of your life in 5 words.
Duration: 10 - 15 minutes, plus revision.
Take a few moments to ask the class what they have answered and have a group discussion on some of the questions you find most interesting!
Mad Libs with Literary Texts
Mad libs is a phrasal template word game originating from the US. It was created by Leonard Stern and Roger Price and first published in 1958. It is often played as a party game or just for fun. It consists of one player prompting others for a list of words to substitute for blanks in a story before reading aloud or dramatizing it. Why not play it in the classroom as a conversation starter?
Guess what? Jimmy Fallon played this with Dakota Johnson as well :)
As an alternative to the classical game, I suggest using fragments from literary texts the students might be familiar with - maybe from a play, to ease dramatization.
Ask the students to sit in pairs and present the game.
INSTRUCTIONS:
We are going to play a game called "Mad Libs" (describe!).
You will be working in pairs. One of you has a list of questions/prompts and the other one has to answer, giving the requested words. When you have them, you insert them in the story, where specified. Afterwards you must read or act out the story!
It is a good idea to illustrate, again with the help of a volunteer.
THE QUESTIONS/PROMPTS:
1. Silly word: _________________
2. Verb ending in -ing: __________________
3. Time of day (evening, noon, etc.): ____________________
4. Place name: _________________
5. Noun: _____________
6. Meal: _____________
7. Vehicle: __________________
8. Fun place: _______________
9. Type of animal (plural): ____________
I use an extract from The Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul, by Jeff Kinney, but anything can be used really. A play or a funny conversation from a textbook could work even better!
Here is the sample text and the place where the prompts should be placed:
___________ (1. silly word) was getting a little restless waiting for everyone to get ______________ (2. verb ending in -ing) this morning. He's one of those guys who gets up ________________ (3. time of day) so that he can arrive at his ________________ (4. place name) early, and this whole late-start thing wasn't working for him.
Eventually, Mom made Rodrick get up and take a ______________ (5. noun). We went to a diner right next to a diner for __________________ (6. meal), then got back in the ______________ (7. vehicle).
Mom said that from now on we were all gonna be on the same sleep schedule so we wouldn't waste any more time on our trip. But, before she was even done talking, Manny passed out in his car seat.
Mom's big plan for the day was for us to go to a __________________ (8. fun place) she read about in ______________ (9. type of animal, plural).
Remember to also hand out the original text, for comparison.
Ask some of the pairs to read out the text loudly in front of the class!
Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. And by all means, subscribe ;)
Good luck this school year!
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