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

Concentration

Where we learned it: Middle School playgrounds
Grade: 4th grade and up
Materials: None

Process:

1. Teach the rhythm of the game.  Everybody says “concentration” in unison and to a count of four (there are four syllables in the word “concentration,” speak each one evenly).  There is a different action to do with your hands on each syllable of the word “concentration.”  On “con,” clap both hands on your thighs.  On “cen,” clap your hands together.  On “tra,” snap your right fingers.  On “tion,” snap your left fingers.  Practice this rhythm as a group until it is in unison.
2. Next assign everyone in the circle a number.  It is easiest to have the facilitator be number one and then number off in a circle from that point.
3. Teach the next part of the rhythm.  Using the same physical pattern, (clap thighs, clap hands, snap right, snap left) have each person say “Number” on the thigh clap and the hand clap (two syllables so two physical moves) and then her number on the remaining two physical gestures (with three syllable numbers, say the first two syllables on the first snap and the last syllable on the last snap).  Repeat saying numbers until everyone is comfortable with that part of the rhythm.
4. To play the game, everyone starts by saying “Concentration” twice.  After that, keeping in time, number one, speaking all alone, says her number on the rhythm and then says another person’s number, still on rhythm.  That person replies by repeating her own number, on rhythm, and then calling out another number, on rhythm.  This pattern continues until someone does not reply or misses the rhythm.
5. If someone misses, her number is now invalid.  She stays in the circle, but if anyone calls an invalid number, that person becomes “out” as well.  Play until there are only a few people left and then you can start it all over again with everyone playing.