Description
Book SynopsisChildren with strong social-emotional skills are better able to cope with everyday challenges and benefit academically, professionally, and socially. But the benefits that can be derived from these skills can only be seen if children are given the opportunity to develop them.
This accessible guide helps teach children to participate in social-emotional learning. Offering fun group activities including social skill-based improv games, participant written plays, and basic plays that can be transformed using the creative minds of children themselves. To increase participant comfort levels with these activities, the book allows for a graduated exposure of techniques, starting with improv trust building and joint focus games, and progressing to improvisation and writing sketches.
Featuring additional downloadable content, including worksheets and lesson plans for classroom use, this is the perfect companion for educators and therapists.
Trade ReviewThis is a fabulous resource for all teachers and therapist to help children develop social skills and confidence while having fun. Shawn and Eleni have created a comprehensive guide to using Applied Improv based on their experience in Improvisational Theatre Games, Emotional learning and clinical practice. The games and exercises are clearly defined with excellent graphics to aid the teacher.
I love this book and will be using it in my classes and therapy. I hope this becomes a resource in every library. It is a jewel!
-- Margot Escott LCSW, Psychotherapist & Improv Teacher, Owner and founder of Improv for Wellness
Safe, equitable methods of social emotional healing and learning through dramatic play for young neuro diverse and typical populations are in this book! Novel, transformative
Social Theatre methods--intentional embodied approaches for community building and repair of trauma and developmental challenges are offered step by step. Useful handouts founded on the authors' research and clinical practices are a thoughtful book bonus. -- Dr. Mimi Savage, registered drama therapist, Associate Professor CIIS Counseling Psychology and Expressive Arts.
Yes! Finally, an incredibly easy to use resource that provides clinicians, teachers, and parents with a fast, effective and engaging way to teach essential social emotional skills. Whether teaching a course or addressing specific needs, Amador and Liossis remove the daunting challenge of helping students who struggle and those who don't with these accessible, supportive, and fun activities. -- Mary DeMichele Creator and author of One Rule Improv® and Improv 'n Ink®.
Table of ContentsPreface
Acknowledgements
Chapter One: History of Social Theatre®, Research, and Methodology
History of Social Theatre
Other Applications of Social Theatre
Research and Methodology
How Can Social Theatre be Applied?
Social Emotional Learning and Parts of Improv
Building Skill Based Activities from Scratch
Meaning of Humor in Social Theatre
Group Humor versus. 'Stand Up Comedy'
Rules of Improv in Application to Social Theatre Activities
Chapter Two: Establishing Group Flow with Boundaries and Rules
Helpful activities to keep Group Flow/structure
Rule Setting
Social Theatre Group Rules
Activity: Using Hands in Group Communication
"Silly Hands"
Activity: Non-Verbal Body Language in Group Communication
"Hot Sauce"
Activity: Sharing Group Attention (Who's in the Spotlight?)
"Attention Monster"
Activity: Sharing and Supporting Group Attention.
"Spotlight
Chapter Three: Strengthening Eye Contact and Deepening Social Relationships
Introduction
Activity: Building Connections through Eye Contact
"Circle Name Game with leveled challenges"
Activity: Connecting with Eye Contact
Activity: Strengthening Eye Contact
"Joint Attention Circle"
Activity: Practicing Joint Attention
"Passing the Ball"
Activity: Strengthening Joint Attention
"Mirroring the Mirror"
Chapter Four: Reading Social Cues
Introduction
Activity: Discovering Details
"What Changes"
Activity: Recognizing Others Wants
"You Wanted to See This?"
Activity: Group Problem Solving Using
"The Huddle"
Activity: Building Listening Skills
"Where did that come from?"
Role Play: Mutual Eye Gaze and Recognizing Boredom
Activity: What to do About Boredom and Cues
Chapter Five: Recognizing and Expressing Feelings
Introduction
Activity: Recognizing and Expressing Feelings
"The Chase"
Activity: Connecting Eyes and Emotions
"Eye Pass Emo Pass"
Activity: Tone Matching and Feelings Puppet
"Voice Message"
Activity: Matching Feelings and Empathy [Version A, B, C, and D]
Version A - "Reading Others Emotions"
Version B - "Reading Others Vocal Tones and Body/Facial Expressions"
Version C - "Matching Empathy to Feelings"
Version D - "Matching Empathy to Feelings - Exploring Anger"
Chapter Six: Conversation Strategies
Introduction
Activity: "Presents" in Conversation
PLAY: "Your Presence is a Present!"
Activity: Building Conversation Skills
"WTMI" (Way To Much Information)
Activity: Transition Word Association
Activity: "When I'm Stuck, Make Topic Bigger!" [Version A and Version B]
Version A - Bigger
Version B - Narrow
Activity: Social Wonder/World Wonder [Version A and Version B]
Version A - Activity
Version B - Role Play
Chapter Seven: ????EXPANDING Flexibility
Introduction
Activity: "I'm Stuffed!" A Role Play about Flexible Thinking and Boxes
Play: "I'm Stuffed"
Activity: Flexible Imaginations with One Word Storytelling
Activity: Morphing Clay
Activity: Acting with Props with Different Purpose
Activity: Flexible Imaginations with "Yes, Lets!!!!"
Chapter Eight: Defining Relationship Roles
Introduction
Level of Relationships and Behavior
Processing: What Are Relationships and Why are they Important?
Activity: Improvising a Relationship.
Activity: Defining Relationships
Relationship Roles and Response Worksheet
PLAY - "Interesting Shoes and Relationship Response"
Chapter Nine: Perspective Taking
Introduction
Activity: Perspective Taking
"Switching Perspectives"
Activity: Perspective Taking
"Testing Perspectives"
Activity: Perspective Taking
"Step Into My Mind"
Activity: Perspective Taking
"Step into My Body"
Activity: Refer to Chapter ? for Mirror the Mirror (add in)?????
Chapter Ten: ??Developing the Inner Monolog, Coping Skills, and Mindfulness
Introduction
Activity: Developing Inner Monologue
"The Shield"
Activity: Finding our Inner Monologue
Plays
Activity: Play about Negative Thinking: "Dr. Evil's Remote Control"
Mindfulness Activities
Activity: Group Mindfulness with "ZIP-ZAP-ZOP"
Activity: Being In The Moment
Activity: Metronome
Activity: Bubble Pop
Activity: Invisible Shield
