Drama Game: Malapropism

Type: Warm-up, Creativity

Purpose: A simple short activity to help students relax and break down barriers to creativity.

Definition: A malapropism is the use of an incorrect word in place of a word with a similar sound, resulting in a nonsensical, often humorous utterance.

Procedure:

1. Have the students walk around the room.

2. As they walk around they are to point to objects and call out what they are not.

i.e. Pointing to desk and saying “Popsicle!” or pointing to a chair and saying “Shoe!”, etc.

3. For older students, or for the next phase, they are to point to objects and call out what they are not with words that have a similar sound.

i.e. Pointing to a desk and saying “Vest!” or pointing to a chair and saying “Chariot!”

4. For the next phase, they are the point to objects and call out with they are not with gibberish words that sound similar.

i.e. Pointing to a desk and saying “Pesk!” or pointing to a chair and saying “Blare Care!”.

VARIATION: Consider calling out different emotions or characters they must inhabit while walking and speaking.

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