Challenge Round

If you find your students need more of a challenge, allow them to come up with their own script.

Step1: Divide students into pairs. Step2: Either provide the characters they will be portraying or approve the characters the students pick. Step3: Allow time for students to write dialogue. Step4: Have students combine groups. Switch scripts for peer editing. Step5: Have the authors of the script present and act out their script for the class. Providing the freedom for students to choose the characters and be creative with what they want to portray can help you as the teacher see if and where a student may need help in the cognitive process.

Role Playing in the Classroom

Gr ow b y p rete ndi ng to be i n som eo ne el ses s hoes

Melanie
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What Statistics Say:

There is a growing connection to the way students behave and the amount of time spent doing different role playing games in and outside the classroom. Different studies have been completed with a variety of ages starting from pre-elementary school through college aged. The studies have been performed for many different reasons including: seeing if the role play would positively impact the person, to see how language barriers affect everyday life, and to see if interactive skills would help students become more included with their peers. Role playing games have also been proven affective with individuals who are not learning disables. Many professionals are trained with role playing games in order to be ready to be out on the job. -J. Thomas Harviainen, Sarah Lynne Bowman, Angelina Ilieve, Doris Bergen How to Implement Role Playing : There are two different ways to set role playing up. Beginner: Teacher prepares the scripts ahead of time. Step1: Teacher prepares a variety of scripts. These can be based off of anything you so choose. Step2: Either randomly or strategically divide students into pairs, or small groups. Step3: Allow the students to read the scripts. Step4: Have the students read their parts to their partner or small group, in the correct order that is printed on the script. Step5: Have the students switch roles. Step6: Have students read the new script. Step7: Have the students read their parts to their partner or small group, in the correct order that is printed on the script.

This process can also be done on a one-on-one basis, depending on the need of the individual student. It is important to have the students switch roles so that they can see and believe that their role in life can and will be varied.