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

Ships and Sailors

Where we learned it: Creative Drama at NU
Grade: Kindergarten and up
Materials: None

Process:

1. In this game, one person (usually the facilitator) is the “Captain.”  This person calls out various orders and everyone else has to follow them.  The last person to do the task called is out and gets sent to the “Brig.”
2. It is possible to play with a rotating out.  There are three spots/seats in the Brig.  Once they are full, when a new person gets sent to the Brig, the person who has been there the longest, gets to come back into the game.
3. The calls for this game are as follows:
1. “Bow”: Everyone runs to the front of the boat.  This area needs to be determined before playing.
2. “Stern”: Everyone runs to the back of the boat.
3. “Port”: Everyone runs to the left side of the boat (left as looking towards the bow).
4. “Starboard”: Everyone runs to the right side of the boat.
5. “Rigging”: Everyone pretends to climb rope riggings.
6. “Dead Rats”: Everyone drops to the floor on their backs and puts their feet and hands up in the air.
7. “Boats of Two”: Everyone finds a partner and sits as if in a rowboat.  Anyone without a partner is sent to the Brig.
8. “Boats of Three”: Everyone finds a group of three and sits as if in a rowboat.  Anyone without a group of three is sent to the Brig.
9. “Boats of Four”: Everyone finds a group of four and sits as if in a rowboat.  Anyone without a group is sent to the Brig.
10. “Captain’s Coming”: Everyone freezes in a salute while the people in the Brig come out to try to make them move/laugh without touching them.  If a Brig member can make someone move, they switch places with that person and come back in the game.
4. This game can be adapted to suit whatever you are teaching.  See Stage Directions.