In this activity, we’ll play a fun game that involves a little bit of drama, and then we’ll discuss how this relates to confidence. Here’s how it works:
Setup
Your teacher will place an envelope/folder at the front of the class containing slips of paper with different emotions written on them.
For example: Happy, Sad, Excited, Angry, Surprised, Scared, Sleepy, Confused, Proud, Shy, Bored, Worried, Silly, Frustrated, Calm
How To Play
Individually, or in pairs, pupils should come and select one slip of paper from the envelope and read the emotion silently.
The challenge is then to say “Unexpected item in the bagging area” while acting out the emotion picked, using body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice.
The teacher will then choose members of the class to try to guess the emotion.
Confidence Check-In
Now, before starting, ask students to privately rate their confidence about performing on a scale of 1-5 (1 being very nervous, 5 being very confident). You can share this with the teacher using you fingers.
Let’s Get Playing
Play the game! Try to involve as many pupils as possible in the time you have, and after each performance, give a little round of applause.
How Did it Feel?
Okay, now you have played the game, as a class think about these questions, and share some answers.
– How did you feel when you had to get up and do the task?
– For those who were initially nervous, did anything help you overcome that feeling?
– Would practicing or preparing differently affect your confidence?
– How can we create a supportive environment that boosts everyone’s confidence?
Let’s Play Again
Okay, let’s try one more time!
To help you out, this time, maybe you look at the emotion words in advance and have a little practice? And make sure that the audience are really supportive too!
Reflect and see if anyone has felt a boost in confidence since the start!
