Game · Movement
Situation charades
Act out an everyday moment where a saying fits, with no words, while your team works out which saying it is.
- 15 minutes
- Small group, Whole class
- Ages 9–12, Ages 12+
- Classroom or at home
- Printable: cut-out cards
What to do
- Cut out the printed meaning cards, or write each meaning on a slip of paper. Fold them and put them in the bowl.
- Read all the sayings and meanings aloud together. Leave the list where everyone can see it.
- Clear a space at the front for the actor. Keep the actions gentle, and stay on the floor, not on furniture.
- One player picks a slip and has thirty seconds to think of an everyday moment where that saying fits. For example, someone missing a goal and then trying again the next week.
- They act the moment with no words and no sounds. Their team guesses which saying it is from the list. Give one minute for each turn.
- When the team guesses, the actor explains the moment they chose. Clap for every actor, whether or not their team guessed.
Questions to talk about
- Which moment fitted its saying best?
- Did anyone act a moment that could have fitted two sayings?
You will need
- The printed meaning cards, cut out and folded
- A bowl or hat
- A list of the sayings and meanings where everyone can see it
- A timer
Make it fit
Simpler: Act in pairs, and let the actor act the meaning itself rather than a moment.
More of a stretch: The team has to name the saying and then describe the moment back to the actor before they score.
Sayings used
Printables
The instructions card is for the adult running the activity; the worksheet is for the children. Prints on A4 or US Letter at 100% / actual size; colour is optional.
The cut-out cards
Cut out the cards, fold each one and put them in a bowl.
The instructions card
How to run it · Game · Movement
Situation charades
Act out an everyday moment where a saying fits, with no words, while your team works out which saying it is.
15 minutesSmall group, Whole classAges 9–12, Ages 12+
What to do
- Cut out the printed meaning cards, or write each meaning on a slip of paper. Fold them and put them in the bowl.
- Read all the sayings and meanings aloud together. Leave the list where everyone can see it.
- Clear a space at the front for the actor. Keep the actions gentle, and stay on the floor, not on furniture.
- One player picks a slip and has thirty seconds to think of an everyday moment where that saying fits. For example, someone missing a goal and then trying again the next week.
- They act the moment with no words and no sounds. Their team guesses which saying it is from the list. Give one minute for each turn.
- When the team guesses, the actor explains the moment they chose. Clap for every actor, whether or not their team guessed.
You will need
- The printed meaning cards, cut out and folded
- A bowl or hat
- A list of the sayings and meanings where everyone can see it
- A timer
Talk about
- Which moment fitted its saying best?
- Did anyone act a moment that could have fitted two sayings?
Make it fit
Simpler: Act in pairs, and let the actor act the meaning itself rather than a moment.
Stretch: The team has to name the saying and then describe the moment back to the actor before they score.
Goes with the printable cut-out cards.