Improvisation Drama Games for Kids

Late For School

• The Late For School dramatic-improvisation game is for four or more children. Two (or more) kids pretend to be students in a class. One kid plays the role of the teacher, and another plays a student who is running late. The late student has to improvise a dramatic scene explaining why he is late for school and how he eventually arrived. The actors do this by watching the actions of the other kids (playing students) who mime dramatic situations that the late student must explain.

Superheros

• Superheros is another dramatic-improvisation game. Each child makes up the name of his or her own superhero and decides on the powers the superhero wields. A parent or friend then suggests a situation that has occurred and a problem the superheros must solve. The superheros must work together and combine their powers to solve the problem.

Harry Potter Game

• This game involves parents or friends creating a problem for the wizard Harry Potter (as played by one of the kids) and his friends to solve by using their magic. In a classroom setting, the kids must decide how they will proceed on their adventure. Once they have reached a conclusion, the scene ends when the teacher (or parent) announces that the class is dismissed. The children then can continue the improvisation and explain what happens as they go on their adventure.

ABC Game

• This game consists of children holding a conversation by using sentences that begin with ascending letters in the alphabet. The first child invents a line that begins with the letter "A." The next child must reply with a sentence that starts with a word that has the letter "B" as its first letter. The sentence must make sense or at least be related to what the first child said. When the alphabet has gone full-circle, the game is over.

Freeze With A Prop

• In Freeze With A Prop, an adult or teacher places a box full of props in front of a group of children. The first child picks up a prop and must use it in a dramatic but unusual way. The main rule of the game is that each prop has to become something else, so a broom can be used for something other than sweeping. After a minute, another child taps the first kid on the shoulder. The first kid freezes, and the next kid takes over and begins using the prop in an entirely different manner. This continues until all the children have used the prop twice. A new prop then is selected.