Games featured here have been used by drama 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
Sending and Accepting Offers, Mime, Generating Ideas, Establishing Setting & Roles
Any
Sending & Accepting Offers, Mime, Language Structures
Primary/Junior
Sending & Accepting Offers, Problem-solving, Making connections
Any
Sending & Accepting Offers, Generating Ideas, Mime
Any
Sending & Accepting Offers, Generating Ideas, Concentration
Primary/Junior
Sending & Accepting Offers, Generating Ideas, Establishing Setting
Any
Sending & Accepting Offers, Generating Ideas, Collaboration
Any
Sending & Accepting Offers, Miming, Generating Ideas, Collaboration, Problem-Solving
Intermediate/Senior
Problem-Solving, Achieving an Objective, Developing Role
Intermediate/Senior
Sending & Accepting Offers, Active Listening, Collaboration
Intermediate/Senior
Blocking, Stage Direction, Levels, Concentration, Risk-Taking
Senior
Non-verbal Communication, Collaboration, Group Mind, Concentration
Any
Non-verbal Communication, Risk Taking, Sending & Accepting Offers
Any
Non-verbal Communication, Concentration, Risk Taking, Sending & Accepting Offers
Junior/Intermediate/Senior
Mime, Accepting offers, Risk Taking, Non-verbal communication
Junior/Intermediate/Senior
Accepting offers, Risk Taking, Non-verbal communication, Active listening
Junior/Intermediate/Senior
Generating Ideas, Active Listening, Risk Taking
Intermediate/Senior
Concentration, Active Listening, Ensemble building, Accepting Offers, Non-verbal Communication
Intermediate/Senior
Active Listening, Accepting Offers, Risk Taking, Generating Ideas, Collaboration, Establishing Setting & Roles, Building Tension/Raising the Stakes
Intermediate/Senior
Accepting Offers, Risk Taking, Generating Ideas, Building Tension/Raising the Stakes, Establishing Setting & Roles
Intermediate/Senior
Accepting Offers, Risk Taking, Generating Ideas, Establishing Setting & Roles, Collaboration, Active Listening, Mime, Non-verbal Communication
Primary/Junior/Intermediate/Senior
Generating Ideas, Collaboration, Risk-Taking, Mime
Any
Concentration, Active Listening, Mime, Accepting Offers
Junior/Intermediate/Senior
Most French translations and language supports were generously provided by Adriana Alfano, OCT.
Further Resources
For further information about teaching Improvisation, check out the following resources:
- Improvisation Fundamentals / Les fondamentaux de l'improvisation (CODE Resource)
- Improvisation - Demonstration Classroom Video (CODE Senior Resource)
- Make it Real ... Improvising in Role (CODE Intermediate Resource)
- Improvisation Focus Course Profile (CODE Senior Resource)
- Canadian Improv Games Lesson Plans
- ImproWiki - Jeux d'impro en français
- https://improvencyclopedia.org/
General 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.
- https://www.childdrama.com/lessons.html
Do you have a game you'd like to add? Let us know using the Feedback form in the menu on the left!