Overview

Circle Games resource cover image
Image description: Within a frame mimicking a retro video game, the title Circle Games: All Panels, Public Resource appears as a title and subtitle above a group of children playing in a circle.

Games featured here have been used by drama and dance practitioners, educators, and artists in various formats for many years. If we have sourced a game from a specific website, it is credited at the end of the game description.

Most of these games can be adapted up or down with the right supports (e.g., supporting scripts or sentence stems for younger students). Use your professional judgment about whether these games are right for your group.

Notes:

  • It may be worthwhile to review procedures for participating safely in drama games before playing (e.g., be prepared to stop when the teacher needs your attention, etc.). Explicit rehearsal of procedures and routines are beneficial for all students and essential for some.
  • Games should include the right to pass and the right to return when students are ready and able to participate again. This honours the social and emotional access needs of students including the need for longer transitions and opportunities to observe before participating, and physical access needs including the need for rest if an activity is overstimulating or tiring. It also honours preferences if a game includes touch that does not feel safe or appropriate for a student (for any reason).
Game Name
Skill Focus
Recommended Panel

Pass the Clap / Passez la claque

Concentration, Ensemble-building, Energizer

Any

Ying Yang Blat / Zip, Zap, Zoom / Whoosh Whoa

Concentration, Ensemble-building, Energizer

Any

The Name Circle / Le cercle de noms

Concentration, Ensemble-building

Any

Action Names (Moving Names) / Noms d'action

Concentration, Risk-Taking, Ensemble Building, Energizer

Any

Thief and Guard / Le voleur et le gardien

Concentration, Ensemble-building, Risk-taking

Any

Count to 20 / Compter à vignt

Concentration, Ensemble-building

Junior/Intermediate/Senior

Strike a Pose, Do Nothing, French Telephone / Prenez une pause, Ne rien faire, Téléphone français

Concentration, Risk-taking, Ensemble-building, Energizer

Junior/Intermediate/Senior

Name Battle  & Squirt! / La bataille des noms & Pschitt !

Concentration, Ensemble-building, Energizer

Any

Hand Over Hand / Main dessus main dessous

Concentration, Ensemble-building, Energizer

Junior/Intermediate/Senior

The Wind Blows & Fruit Salad / Le vent souffle & La salade de fruits

Concentration, Ensemble-building, Physical warm-up, Language skills, Energizer

Any

Say Their Name / Dis son nom

Concentration, Ensemble building, Risk-taking, Non-verbal communication

Any

Non-verbal Introduction / Introduction non verbale

Concentration, Ensemble building, Risk-taking, Non-verbal communication

Any

Spaghetti Game / Le Jeu de spaghetti

Non-verbal communication, Risk-taking, Energizer

Any

Captain Tap / Capitaine Tap

Concentration, Risk-taking, Ensemble-building, Active Listening

Any

Zoomie Zoomie Game / Jeu Zoumie Zoumie

Concentration, Ensemble-building, Active Listening

Junior/Intermediate/Senior

Popcorn / Maïs soufflé

Concentration, Ensemble-building, Non-verbal communication

Primary/Junior/Intermediate/Senior

Horseshoe/President / Fers à cheval/Président

Concentration, Ensemble-building, Active listening

Intermediate/Senior

The Seat on My Right is Free / La place à ma droite est libre

Ensemble-building, Active listening

Any

ZigZag Names / Noms en zigzag

Ensemble-building, Active listening

Any

Tangles / La mêlée

Ensemble-building, Observation, Concentration, Problem-solving, Non-verbal communication, Self-awareness

Intermediate/Senior

Buzz! / Bzzz !

Ensemble-building, Active Listening, Concentration

Junior/Intermediate/Senior

Look Down, Look up / Leve les yeux, baisse les yeux

Ensemble-building, Concentration, Non-verbal Communication, Risk-taking

Junior/Intermediate/Senior

Applause / Applaudissements

Ensemble-building, Risk-taking

Any

Poison Frog / Grenouille venimeuse

Ensemble-building, Concentration, Observation, Non-verbal communication, Self-awareness

Primary/Junior

Nod and Switch / Signe de tête et l’échange

Ensemble-building, Concentration, Observation, Non-verbal communication, Self-awareness, Risk-taking

Primary/Junior/Intermediate/Senior

Do you have a game you'd like to add?  Let us know using the Feedback form in the menu on the left!

Further Resources

  • Booth, David. Games For Everyone. Pembroke Publishers Limited, 1986.
  • Booth, David & Charles Lundy. Improvisation, Learning Through Drama. Harcourt Brace Jananovich, 1985.
  • Boal, Augusto. Games For Actors and Non-Actors. Routledge, 1992.
  • Neelands, Jonothan.  Beginning Drama 11-14.  David Fulton, 1997.
  • Rooyackers, Paul. 101 Drama Games: Fun and Learning with Acting and Make Believe. Hunter House, 1997.
  • Rooyackers, Paul. 101 Dance Games for Children: Fun and Creativity with Movement. Hunter House, 1996.
  • Spolin, Viola. Theatre Games for the Classroom: A Teacher’s Handbook. Northwestern University Press, 1986.
  • Swartz, Larry. The New Dramathemes. Pembroke Publishers, 2002.
  • Name Games from https://www.dramanotebook.com/drama-name-games
  • https://www.childdrama.com/lessons.html