Drama

Improv Activity:
‘Grab a Slip’
Freebie
This resource is one of
my most successful
drama activities that
practices the skills of
Improvisation.

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 Learning Goal
I can use improvisation to engage
actively in drama exploration and role
play, with a focus on examining multiple
perspectives and possible outcomes.

Elements of Drama
Role/character: considering in depth the inner and outer life in
developing a character; differentiating between authentic
characters and stereotypes; using gestures and movement to
convey character

Relationship: analysing and portraying how relationships

influence character development/change

Time and place: establishing a clear setting; sustaining belief in

the fictional setting

Tension: using sound, light, technology, and stage effects to

heighten tension/suspense

Focus and emphasis: using drama conventions to reveal or

communicate key emotions, motivations, perspectives, and ideas
to the audience

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 Materials:
20 Slips (less or more, up to you). Cut them out!

How to play:
1. Create slips of paper with random (and at times funny phrases)
on them. (i.e. “The goats left for dinner already”, “Never point at a
pine tree”, “Please stop looking at my earlobe”, etc.)
2. Spread the slips of paper face down on the floor of the stage
area.
3. Ask two or three actors to improvise a scene. Have them or the
audience choose the setting and who the characters are going to be.
4. During the improv the teacher or a student of your choice at
random intervals yells “Grab a slip!”. An actor must bend down in
mid-sentence and grab a slip of paper, say the line, and somehow
justify the line.

*The idea of the game is to try your best to “stay in character” and
improvise how to make the “slip” make sense to the scene*
NOTE:

Encourage all the actors to do the best they can to stay in character and
allow the line to become part of the scene.
OTHER RANDOM PHRASES:

– “Always salt your pasta before boiling it”

– “Explain yourself, quickly!”

– “Hats are the only food I eat”

– “If only the refrigerator would run for president”

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 Here are some grab a slip phrases that my students and I
have created over the years. Once you play this activity try
having your students make their own as well! Make sure to
cut this into slips.

I think I’ll go to sleep on Explain yourself

that squirrel. quickly!

Red is my favourite I’m so blue, I’m greener

number. than purple.

My hair hurts.
I only fart on Mondays.

One time, I died, but I

One time I tried to jump got better.
over a peach tree.

You see that guy?

Good.
Only owls wear glasses.

Dominoes aren’t meant

Sometimes I look at the to be left in the sun.
sky and I see gorillas.
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 Here are some grab a slip phrases that my students and I
have created over the years. Once you play this activity try
having your students make their own as well! Make sure to
cut this into slips.

Never point at a pine

Never underestimate
tree.
the importance of clean
underwear.
We may have a potato
understanding.
Shhh, the jalapenos are
sleeping.
My mouth feels like a
wet velcro.
Stop looking at my
earlobe.
You look like a confused
dinosaur.
Sometimes, I dream
about cheese.
The goats left for
dinner.
Isn’t it weird that
pineapples never wear
swimsuits?
Does my voice sound
like a tiny robot?

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 Here are some grab a slip phrases that my students and I
have created over the years. Once you play this activity try
having your students make their own as well! Make sure to
cut this into slips.

If only the We’re like purple ducks

refrigerator ran for in a grey pond.
president.

If only everyone could I usually smell like cat

see me now! litter.

Hats are the only food You should probably get

I eat. that checked out.

The philosophy of
science is BLUE. Always salt your pasta
before boiling it.

Let me brush that for

you.

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