Use only seven words and pantomime to tell a story! Pantomime means using only body movements to communicate. In this group activity, children have five minutes to plan and practice a skit, and two minutes to perform. This collaborative activity pushes children to be spontaneous and creative on the spot.

• Paper
• Pen or pencil
• A deck of 49 cards, with one word written on each card (such as fork, sleep, help, and chimpanzee). Create your own, or use this template to get you started.

1. Place the cards face down on a table.
2. Each team selects seven cards from the pile at random. Each card should have only one word written on it. These are the only words that may be spoken in the performance.
3. Each team has five minutes to plan and practice the skit. The skit should have a beginning, middle, and end. One person on the team must say each of the seven words at least once during the skit.
4. Perform the skit in front of an audience. Time the skit to be two minutes only.
5. Do the skit again with a new group of words!

Try these add-on activities:

• Add props! In addition to the seven words and pantomime, add props to the skit.
• Film the performance and share it with friends and family.