The Art of Pantomime

Fourth grade students are in the middle of learning how to communicate effectively without using their voices, otherwise known as pantomime acting. The students have been challenged with different games and activities that ask them to communicate character, plot, setting, theme, tone and object without speaking, making any vocal sounds or using any props. They have discovered the importance of facial expressions and body language through these challenges. Every student has improved dramatically in their ability to make the audience understand their non-verbal communication since the first class.

I have found that students who are able to master the art of pantomime acting become better all around actors. They become less reliant on their voices and use their whole bodies when playing different characters. When working with older elementary children this becomes especially important. Students this age are beginning to get stuck in their heads, worrying about what classmates are thinking. This tends to make them less physical in their acting and more reliant on only their voices. Beginning the semester with pantomime takes away the "safety net" of voice, they all know how to communicate that way, and requires them to get creative and look a little silly. This makes all of the acting for the rest of the semester higher quality.