How Do You Do? | Drama-Based Instruction

Context for this Strategy

Space:

Room for a Circle

Materials:

none

Age Group:

Upper Elementary/Primary

Middle School/Secondary

High School/Secondary

Directions:

Students stand in a circle and are told that they are guests at a party. One student volunteers to be the host and walks around the outside of the circle and selects one student by tapping them on the shoulder. The host shakes the hand of the selected guest and says: “I’m _____. How do you do?” The guest replies, “I’m _____. Fine, thank you.” This exchange is repeated for a total of 3 times and then all propriety is abandoned. The host dashes around the outside of the circle in the direction they was originally going, while the guest runs in the opposite direction; each is trying to get back to the starting place first. However, when their paths cross somewhere on the other side of the circle, the host and the guest must stop, shake hands, and go through the formalities three more times—then they continue around the circle. Whoever loses the race becomes the next host.

Reflection:

What tactics did various players use to try to get what they wanted?
What other tactics might have helped?
Where else do we see situations like this?

Source Citations:

Fluegelman, Andrew. More new games!—and playful ideas from the New Games Foundation. New York: Dolphin Books, 1981. Print.