Teacher Toolbox Sp

Stage Picture Description: Stage Picture, also known as Frozen Picture, is an activity that invites students to work quickly in small groups to create a visual representation of an idea, theme, text, event, or character using their own bodies. Students work collaboratively to make meaning both through their bodies and their words.

Directions: Here is a step by step guide to using Stage Picture: 1. Divide students into small groups. 2. Give the groups a theme and ask them to create a picture they feel represents that idea. 3. Each group will present their version of the theme. The other students will discuss how the group’s picture represents the theme. 4. When every group has presented their picture, give a new theme, or give each group their own theme to present to the class. 5. If give individual scenes, the observer students need to guess and discuss how effective the picture was in representing that theme. 6. After concluding the exercise, have the students reflect on the activity. Some reflection questions might be: a. Did the pictures tell the stories they were meant to? Why or why not? b. How could the pictures have been strengthened or clarified? c. What choices helped us explore the themes? d. Why are pictures sometimes more, or less, impactful than words?

When to Use This Strategy: The best times to use this strategy would be: 1. To introduce a unit in Mime or Pantomime unit. 2. As a warm up activity at the beginning of class.

3. As a way to describe how visual pictures can tell an audience as much, or more, as the lines they speak. 4. As a way to teach levels, body positions, and planes. 5. As an icebreaker at the beginning of the year.

Variations: Here are some variations of this strategy: 1. Have the students recreate a famous picture from history or art. 2. Vacation Photo: Two students narrate a series of stage pictures to create a story about a vacation. 3. Statues: This variation can become a competition or game, as the frozen students can change their positions while trying to not be caught by one student who is not frozen.