Theater Games and Activities for Young Children
This tip sheet was developed together with the Children’s Theatre Company. It presents a theater-based
lesson plan to use with groups of children, and outlines how activities relate to Social and Emotional
Learning (SEL) competencies defined by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)
Theater doesn’t just mean acting out a play in front of an audience with scripts, costumes, and scenery. The following activities
break down the elements of theater—such as imagining a character’s perspective; communicating emotions; and using our bodies, voices, and imaginations to express ourselves in a multisensory way. Follow along with this example of a Storytime activity, adapted from the Children’s Theatre Company’s classroom lesson plans and Creative Play activities.
Begin with Mindfulness
Mindfulness exercises support the self- management SEL competency. They can be a powerful tool to help students regulate their
body’s energy and transition between activities. Focusing on the breath and noticing the present moment are calming strategies. Children can also learn to use these strategies at times of heightened emotion.
Here are two exercises you can use as a refocusing transition between activities. Before you begin, take a moment to center
yourself and invite the children in your care to take a deep breath with you.
Mindfulness Countdown:
As you breathe, brainstorm with your class. Think about:
5) Five things you can see around the room
4) Four things you can touch, feel, or hold in your hand (your shirt sleeve, the floor, your chair, etc.)
3) Three things you can hear in the room when you listen closely
2) Two things you can smell
1) One word for how you feel inside*
*You can also think about one or two things you can notice in your body. This could include your breathing, your heartbeat, if you are hungry or need to stretch, and so on.
Volcano Breaths:
As you breathe, imagine a volcano that stretches high in the sky, and deep down in the earth:
- Start by feeling the "rumbling" of the earth. Pat your hands quickly on the floor, then (gently) pat your legs, moving patting hands up to your belly, and then up to your heart.
- Push your hands together at your heart and take a deep breath in.
- Breathe out slowly as the "Volcano erupts," pushing your hands up over your head.
- Slowly, let your arms float back down to your sides.
Make Faces
Acting out different emotions supports the social awareness SEL competency. Children may also notice that there are many different ways to express the same emotion.
Practice happy, sad, nervous, or angry expressions. Focus on the emotions that characters feel in the story you are about to read
and act out. What does your expression look like? It may look the same or different from the people around you or the illustrations in the book.
Try it out: Use a hand mirror to show children what their faces look like as they are acting out different emotions or characters. Encourage them to voice emotions, too: "I'm so happy!" or "I'm so scared!"
Read a Story
Story books reinforce active listening, part of the relationship skills competency. They also provide
examples of conflict and resolution. When children act out the story, they practice social skills within a predictable framework.
Read a story to the class, taking time on each page to act it out with your students. You can make your body grow tall like trees or crawl on the floor making animal sounds.
Try it out: Invite children to echo characters' lines and think about what they might sound or act like. Prompt by asking "Do characters have a high voice or a low voice?" "How are they feeling?" "What choices do you think the characters will make?"
Make it your Own
Children claim creative ownership of the story by trying out new choices for the characters. When they change story elements, they see the results of those creative choices play out. They gain a level of autonomy they may not often experience as young children. This supports the responsible decision-making SEL competency.
Once the story is over, put down the book and ask children how they would like to act it out. Give them the option to play many different characters. Offer the choice to do things exactly like the book or make changes. “The Three Little Pigs” could turn into the
“Seven Giant Tigers,” for example. Children can echo lines from the story or make up new lines for their characters. Allow time for them to act out their own version, providing assistance with remembering the story beats and narrating where appropriate.
Incorporate Sensory Activities
The following sensory activities are designed to be “opt in” exercises where children can interact with objects and sensations in
whatever way inspires them. They can notice how they can affect or be affected by these tactile props. They can explore new forms of self-expression. This aligns with the responsible decision-making SEL competency.
Provide a spray bottle of plain water, a scarf or cotton ball, or other household items that provide a variety of sensory experiences
through texture or movement. These “props” can anchor story elements in a new way.
End with Mindfulness
Returning to the mindfulness exercise from the beginning of the lesson, students get ready to transition to their next activity. They may notice different things this time, or they may find comfort in repeating the same things they noticed the first time. The point is simply to notice the present moment. This strategy supports the self-management SEL competency.
Try it out: Take a moment to reflect. Think about the story and the games you just played. Take a deep breath with the children, and repeat a mindfulness countdown.
Diving into It
For additional information on this topic,
Check out the Children’s Theatre Company’s Creative Play storytelling program at childrenstheatre.org or email education@childrenstheatre.org
To learn more about executive function, check out our tip sheets: z.umn.edu/executive-function.
For more on the power of pretend play, check out our blog post, “Do Grown-ups Play Pretend?”: ceed.umn.edu/do-grown-ups-play-pretend. Visit us at ceed.umn.edu.