Theatre Education: A Resource of Practical and Project-Based Warm-ups/Theatre Games for K-12

1, 2, 3 in Pairs

Where we learned it: Methods of Teaching Drama at ASU
Ages: 2nd grade and up
Materials: Even number of people

Process:

1. Divide the group into pairs
2. The students will face their partners and alternately count, “1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3…”  Since there will be two people saying three numbers, the person who says, “1” will change each time.
3. Once the pairs are proficient at fluidly counting together, substitute an action for “1.”  They continue to count, “1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3…” but instead of saying “1” they do the action.  So it becomes “Action, 2, 3, action, 2, 3…”
4. Once the pairs can complete this step fluidly, add a different action for “2.”
5. Once again, when the movement/rhythm is fluid, add yet another action for “3.”  Now the pairs will be doing, “Action 1, action 2, action 3, action 1, action 2, action 3…”

Variations:

1. The actions can be theme specific to make it appropriate for history or a particular topic.