alternative topic five: drama activity
– within groups (continued)
to the teacher
Peer pressure is something which everyone has to face at some time
in their lives. These acting exercises involve situations where
one person is having to stand out and be different from his/her
group.
topic development
Divide the class into four groups. Give a different scenario (below)
to each one. In each case:
• X is someone who thinks differently from
the crowd and makes his/her views known.
• Y is the victim.
In a hall
Let each group find a space in which to act out their scene with
different people taking turns to be X and Y.
When you think they have had enough time to try it several ways,
call them together for a class discussion on the questions overleaf.
In a classroom
Having decided who is going to be X and Y,
let the groups have enough time to decide what is going to happen
in their scene.
Ask each group in turn to act their scene in front of the class,
followed by a general discussion considering:
• What it takes to admit to having different ideas from the
group you are in and why.
• The effectiveness of the methods used to persuade the group
to take a new course of action with Y.
• Why groups often gang up against one other person. Is this
a sign of weakness or strength?
At the end of the lesson or in a following lesson it would be worthwhile
to have discussions in small groups, relating this work to actual
situations in which they are involved and to see if there is any
constructive action they should take.
Acting scenarios
• X is part of a group of friends doing something
together. Y comes along and asks to join in. They
don't like Y so show that they do not want her/him.
X thinks Y should be included.
What does X do?
• A group of friends are together and the focus of the conversation
is Y who seems to be really popular. Y
eventually leaves and they immediately start talking behind Y's
back. X thinks this is two-faced and wrong. What
does he/she say or do?
• A group of friends start picking on and bullying Y.
X thinks this is unfair. What does she/he do?
• Y's family are going through very hard
times financially. A group of Y's friends are talking
about the new things they have bought recently or are planning to
buy. X realises that is not
joining in and feels bad about it. What does he/she say or do about
it?
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