PICNIC Each year, on the first day of school, I would play picnic with my students, both English and drama. After I had seated them, we would "go on a picnic." Before we started I would remind them that it was a school-sanctioned event so they had to keep that in mind. The first student would say their first name and then they would bring something to the picnic that began with the letter of their first name: "Hi, my name is Margaret and I am going to bring mustard." The next student would then say, “Hi, this is Margaret (indicating the first student) and she is bringing mustard. I am Brad and I’m bringing a basketball.” It would continue until half the class had responded and then we would start all over. When everyone had “taken” something to the picnic, I would ask if anyone would like to say everyone’s name and what they were bringing. I always had a least 2 students who could name all the items, and most of the names. I would let them go on even if they couldn’t remember. There was always someone who would help them out. (Even two weeks after school had started we would review our "picnic," and it was amazing how the students remembered!) CLAP HANDS
(see page 79 in The Drama Teacher’s Survival Guide) Have everyone sit in a circle and number off. Then you start a rhythm: two claps on the thighs (using both hands), two hand claps together, and then two snaps of fingers. Practice this until everyone can do it. Now comes the tricky part: when the two snaps happen, the person with the number 1 is to say his/her number on the first snap and another student’s number on the second snap. Then everyone claps their thighs, claps their hands together and when it comes time for the snaps, the person whose number was called says their number on the first snap and another number in the circle with the second. The trick is to keep a steady rhythm, not breaking it because someone does not remember his or her number. If they do not notice when their number is called, have the person who said their number start over. In order to make it a bit more difficult, have the person who messes up become the previous number. Of course many people's numbers then change and the trick is to remember your new number. To make it even more difficult, various rules can be put into effect; no reverse numbers, no number to the direct right or left of you, etc. PERSONAL COMMERCIAL The second day of my drama class saw commercials. Each student created a thirty-second commercial about him- or herself. It could take any form: a testimonial, a song and dance, a slice of life, multiple characters—anything—as long as it was in commercial form and did not exceed thirty seconds. This will be my last blog for a couple of weeks. I am having total shoulder replacement surgery next week and will be out of commission for a while. When I return I will continue more improvisation games that I found helpful and fun. | 
