MORPH THE MOTION: A DRAMA GAME FOR KIDS
A Group Warmup Using Body and Voice

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

• While the students are standing in a circle, a student—acting as leader—steps into the center and starts a random motion with a sound to go with it, repeating it over and over rhythmically.  The rest of the group mirrors the sound and motion.  

• Once the leader sees everyone doing the sound and motion in unison, he/she makes eye contact with another student in the circle and walks toward them. The two switch places—with the leader rejoining the circle and the second student stepping to the center to become the leader. 

• Everyone continues the motion and sound throughout this exchange. The new leader gradually changes or “morphs” the motion and sound and rhythm into a new one they create. The students in the circle then mirror this new sound/action/rhythm. 

• When all have joined in, the new leader repeats the process established by the first leader, i.e., they make eye contact with someone in the circle, walk toward them, and switch places—creating a new leader. This new leader, now in the center, again morphs the sound/motion into a new one. 

• The process continues with leadership passing  from one student to another, and the sound/motion changing with each new leader. Ideally this procedure should not be rushed. The leaders—and the rest of the students mirroring them—should allow each rhythm/sound/motion to gradually morph into the new one, without stops and without abrupt changes.  Stress that the leader in the middle must make eye contact with a student in the circle before heading to take their place.
  

MORE DRAMA GAMES AND THEATER ACTIVITIES YOU MIGHT ENJOY:
FIVE THINGS - Actors are given a category and must quickly name 5 things that fit
COUNT TO TEN - With eyes closed, students count to ten as a group with only one person speaking at a time
THE KNOT - Students hold hands across a circle to create a human knot, then try to untangle themselves without letting go