Putting on a full stage production may be beyond the scope of a small homeschool group, which leaves kids and their families looking for a school or town production so their children can have the experience of being in a play. However, creative dramatics can be a fun and spontaneous activity. The following activities can work with a multi-age group, allowing everyone to participate, and doesn’t rely on reading ability.
Imaginative Activities for Kids
Instant dramatics incorporates the imaginative play that kids are familiar with from their make-believe games at home. Help kids warm up to the group by providing hats, costumes, or props from around the house that when they put on or pick up the kids must act out the role associated with the costume or prop.
Select a short story from a collection or a picture book. Older children can be encouraged to read the story before they get to the meeting while an adult can read the story to younger children or children with different reading levels and abilities.
The adult should select a story with many characters or the potential of adding characters. While children listen to the story, they should select a part (or parts) that they’d be interested in portraying. Discuss how the gender of characters can change, for example from a princess to a prince.
Fun for Kids in a Play
Go back to the start of the story a look at the characters. Ask students who would be interested in the different parts. When several students are interested in a part, ask them to note other roles they’d be interested in playing. On a sheet of paper, list the characters and the students who are interested in those parts. Do students see the potential of adding characters?
Extra characters don’t have to be minor, background characters. Keep in mind that movies do this all the time when translating short stories to the big screen and they need to flesh out the story. Eliminate undesired parts, or allow children to double-up on smaller roles. Children who are nervous at the idea of speaking in front of a group could become part of the background or scenery.
Keep costumes and props simple so they quickly define the character; for example, an apron and mixing bowl for a cook, tin foil crown for a princess. Before suggesting the group put on a play, the adult leading the activity can gather supplies for the children to pick and chose. Have some recycled art and craft supplies available for quick craft making. Bed sheets are useful for covering objects and creating background props.
Imaginative Kids and the Activities for Dramatic Play
Run through the play the first time with the leader reading the story, stopping when there is action or dialogue. Actors can improvise as opposed to trying to recite what they heard in the story. Prompt the actors as necessary. Run through the play a second time, making changes in the cast, switching roles, if necessary. Depending on the group, they may want to do a third run-through, although consider if the group is losing focus.
After two-to-five hours of games and activities, have the students put on the play for parents, friends, and other family members. The goal isn’t to create a polished, professional-looking play, but to allow children to explore improvisation while learning how to work cooperatively with other homeschoolers.