Drama and Acting

Image via Wikipedia

I use this game when I first start teaching my younger students about still images and freezing.

Firstly, you will need to set up the Wizard’s castle using chairs and other props.

Then you will need to split the class, half with create a forest by creating a still image of a tree or bush and their feet must remain rooted, while the other half are explorers looking for the Wizard’s treasure in the magic forest. If the explorers touch the poisonous trees or bushes then they turn into a tree or bush too!

The teacher plays the role of the wizard who remains in their castle until they hear movement in the forest. When the Wizard pops his/her head out of the castle all of the explorers must freeze and pretend to be trees to avoid being spotted. Anyone spotted moving again becomes a tree or bush.

The winner is the student who managers to get past all of the poisonous trees and into the Wizard’s castle without being spotted.

This exercise can also be used as a warm up for concentration and I also use it when teaching ‘The Old Man in the Grange’ poem as this explores magic.