THE DRAMA CIRCLE

Promoting Bahá'í-inspired Theatre Initiatives

Goal 1: Get them on their feet and get the blood pumping

   Whether working with children, junior youth, youth or adults, the arts can bring enjoyment as well as a deeper qualitative understanding of the material under study. On this series of pages, we discuss some simple ways of invigorating study circles, junior youth groups, children's classes and even devotional gatherings.

Games

   Playing games is a terrific way to energize a group and to create a sense of intimacy and camaraderie that you don't really get from just sitting and talking. They are like an appetizer, a spice or a dessert to the main course under study. Even so, they don't need to be seen as tangential. Games often have a point, a quality they require from us, such as unity or spontaneity, and so can often be shaped to support the day's lesson. The useful lifespan of a game will rarely extend beyond 15 or 20 minutes; some are quite effective at 5 minutes. 

[Cont'd from previous column]  
   As a rule, lean towards collaborative games and away from competitive win-lose games. (Sports are another thing.) If the game is competitive, consider playing a version that doesn't eliminate the loser, but instead re-integrates them in some way.

   For example, there is a simple but fun game called "Touch something _____." It begins with someone calling out, "Touch something green!" for example. Then everyone scurries to find something green to touch. The last person to find something green is not eliminated, they just have to call out the next description. So they say, "Touch something metal" or "fluffy" or "round"...  And everyone scurries again and the game continues.

   There are some great websites online with descriptions of these kinds of games. Two examples are

     www.wilderdom.com/games/

     www.david-farmer.com/drama.htm

   Also, if you have a favorite game, please leave a description of it (or a link) on our discussion board. è

"Core Activities" Page Headings:

  1. Games

  2. Skits

  3. Role-Playing

  4. Junior Youth

Got game?