What are you doing?
Benefits of the game
Have you ever looked for an exciting game that can help you boost your creativity, characterisation and improvisation skills? If your answer is yes, you've come to the right place! “What are you doing?” is an engaging activity that can help you become a master of quick thinking, storytelling and show casting. Before starting, it's important to remind yourself to use your imagination and try to come up with unique and interesting answers for the game. Its not only about the action - you can also create a character and give a face to the story. This game will help you develop the skills necessary to express yourself in any type of situation. Get ready to explore the world of “What are you doing?” and discover how to express yourself and become a better storyteller!
Good for all ages. Good for all group sizes.
How to play
The group stands in a straight line across the stage. The first person in line moves forward and starts an action (such as brushing their hair).
The next person in line goes into the scene, and asks, “What are you doing?”
The first person who was brushing their hair answers by saying a different activity to what they are doing such as “I’m shooting a basketball.”
The first person then leaves the scene, and the new person starts shooting a basketball.
There is a small wait to allow the person performing to do their part.
Then the next person in line goes in and asks, “What are you doing?”
The game repeats like this for as many turns as you like.
Tips for playing
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Have the person moving into the scene react to what the first person is doing. Have them copy or react to the movement and also use the voice in different ways to ask the current player What are you doing?
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Encourage students to make new choices each time or have the no repeats rule. (As I find my younger students get stuck in a theme sometimes)
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Enforce a ‘no disgusting things’ rule because this particular game compels students to be gross to embarrass other children in the class. For example ‘I’m having a poo!’
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Love 2 Learn English also writes plays and shows for children/schools with no licence fees. Simply pay for the script and use it how you want.
Check out the Scripts & Monologue pages here.