Different Voices, Different Occasions
From “Five Easy Drama Games for the Early Elementary Classroom” by ArtsEdge
Help young students begin to develop speaking skills that enable them to influence state, local, national affairs through this drama game. This can be adapted for older English Learner students, as well as for distance learning.
Different Voices, Different Occasions -
“An invaluable skill for young students is figuring out how to adapt their voice to a particular situation and place—whether on the playground, in the classroom, or talking to a friend on the bus. The following exercise teaches students how to modulate their voice while also teaching voice projection:
First create an open space in your classroom and have students sit in a circle. Each student selects one index card from a container. On the card, a location (i.e., couch, desk, gym, bus, park) and a person (i.e., friend, teacher, guardian) are provided. Pick a student to select one stuffed animal or toy from a pile you gathered before class, then place it anywhere in the circle. Invite the student to speak to the object as if it were the person listed on the index card in the appropriate tone of voice for the given location. After the student speaks, the rest of the class guesses the location of the conversation and whom the doll or toy represents. Continue until every student has a chance to speak.”