Theatre games have long been a staple of drama groups and classes, but many of them can be adapted to other classes to provide simple, action oriented activities for review of important classroom information. The advantage is that each game requires little or no special equipment, little space, and involves every student in low risk opportunities. Many of these games can be accessed on the web by going to Google and typing in "Theatre games". Below I have chosen 3 simple games and adapted them for various types of classes.
1.Name Game: Purpose - to become familiar with names and interests of the participants. Equipment - a nerf ball.Activity: Everyone stands in a circle. Explain that you will be throwing the ball and when a person catches the ball, they are to say their name and tell one thing about themselves. English Class Adaptation: When a person catches the ball they are to say their name and tell one book they have recently read or one movie they recently saw. AdditionalAdaptation - [this technique is called "Line Tossing" and comes from the Shakespeare Set Free series of books from the Folger Shake. Lib. Give each student a pre-printed line from a story or play you are reading on a slip of paper. As each student receives the ball, he/she recites the line from their slip of paper. Do this until everyone has had a chance to say his/her line at least twice. The idea is that by doing this, students begin to own the text and are less intimidated by it. Other adaptations: Government Class: the "line tosses" can be the names of key legislation or Supreme Court Decisions that you want students to remember.
2. Name tag: Purpose to become familiar with names of class members, characters in a story/novel, or famous historical figures. Equipment: name tags for everyone. Activity: As students enter a classroom they are given a name tag with another person's name on it. They are to find that person and introduce themselves and tell that person one thing interesting about themselves. English Class Adaptation: Give each person a name tag with the name of a character from the latest story or novel the class is reading. Each person has to introduce himself/herself to at least 2 other people in the class and tell something about the character or answer at least 1 question about the character. SocialStudies Adaptation: Give each person a name tag with the name of a famous person or event from history and introduce him/herself to at least 2 other people in the class and share information about that person or event, or answer a question from the other person.
3. Line Up: Purpose: to build class community. Equipment: little or none. Activity: Ask students to line themselves up by birthday WITHOUT ANY TALKING. They may communicate with hand signals but no talking or writing. After the line up check orally. Math Adaptation: Have students line themselves up in various types of geometric figures. Announce : isoceles triangle! Students will then have to line themselves up in that shape without checking their books for the form. Afterward, show a sample and compare. Do the same for other geometric shapes. The opportunity to combine the concept with physical action and placement will help students remember the forms. History Adaptation:Give each student a file card with a an event from a particular time period and ask them to create a visual "time line" by lining up in the order of the events.