Statues

This type of activity is also called Experiential Learning, Applied Learning, Hands-on Learning, and Creating Artificial Realities, to name a few. Students create statues individually or in groups of two to six. Students are given anything from a single term to a concept or situation that they must represent and reproduce with their bodies or act out in a role-play situation. Their bodies can be still or in motion, depending on what it is that they are attempting to demonstrate. It can be a silent or spoken activity depending on what the students are to accomplish.

Preparation

Determine the terms or concepts that will be used in the activity.

Procedure

1. Divide class into two, three, or four groups. 2. Within the groups are groups of two or three students who will represent their group for any given round. 3. Demonstrations can proceed with groups taking turns. 4. The concept, idea, etc., that each individual or group is to demonstrate for the class can be given to the students as soon as their turn arrives, or even days before so as to give them time to plan or research what they will present.

When to Use It

• To get students thinking critically and creatively • To recall concepts or introduce new ones • To get students to work together

Level

High beginning to Intermediate + (depending on concept used)

Skills

Practice

Materials

Categories should be prepared ahead of time

Preparation Time

5 minutes to one or more days (if given as homework or a project)

Activity Time

10–15 minutes

Variations

1. This can be played as a competition of charades. 2. Groups could come up with a concept based on a particular theme.

Possible Categories

• Numbers • Thematic vocabulary • Specific vocabulary • Illustrating a sentence • Structure of a sentence • Story line • Definitions of vocabulary • Famous moments in history • Geographical forms • Historical figures • The political system • Internal conflicts of characters in a novel • The climax or resolution of a story