The Act the Word Activity
Act the Word is an entertaining group guessing game to improve communication skills and inspire creativity.
Invite one or more volunteers to stand in front of the rest of your group. Explain that they (as a group) need to secretly think of one adverb.
Allow 10 seconds, for the volunteer(s) to secretly choose one adverb. Encourage them to think of a fun adverb such as slowly, nervously, or eagerly.
You now ask the rest of the group – the audience, so to speak – to offer a series of ‘situations’ for the volunteers to perform as a group, one at a time. Immediately, the volunteers will perform the scenarios (as a group) in the manner of the adverb.
For example, the situation could be ‘brushing your teeth,’ or ‘flying a plane.’ Upon each suggestion, the volunteers perform the situation in the manner of the adverb they have chosen.
Challenge your group to accurately predict the adverb the volunteers are performing as quickly as possible.
If the correct adverb has not been guessed within 10 to 15 seconds, your group will offer a new scenario.
Play continues, with a series of scenarios and acts until the adverb is identified.
Moment of Reflection
- Did you know what an adverb was at first?
- What was one of the most difficult adverb scenarios to perform? Why?
- How did the volunteers respond when the group clearly did not comprehend their actions?
- What were the most significant social cues you responded to? Why?
- Can you think of an action that perhaps confused the group? Why?
- What are examples of social cues or behaviours that you sometimes get confused or wrong?
The topics of this publication: non-verbal communication, interactions, integration, teamwork, observation skills, creativity, adaptation, improvise, adaptability skills
