Group Activities for Social Emotional Learning using Sketch Comedy and Improv Games

by Shawn Amador, Eleni Liossis

Overview

Children with strong social-emotional skills are better able to cope with everyday challenges and benefit academically, professionally, and socially. But the benefits that can be derived from these skills can only be seen if children are given the opportunity to develop them.
This accessible guide helps teach children to participate in social-emotional learning. Offering fun group activities including social skill-based improv games, participant written plays, and basic plays that can be transformed using the creative minds of children themselves. To increase participant comfort levels with these activities, the book allows for a graduated exposure of techniques, starting with improv trust building and joint focus games, and progressing to improvisation and writing sketches.
Featuring additional downloadable content, including worksheets and lesson plans for classroom use, this is the perfect companion for educators and therapists.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781839972928
Publisher:	Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Publication date:	02/21/2023
Pages:	144
Sales rank:	438,772
Product dimensions:	8.43(w) x 10.94(h) x 0.55(d)

About the Author

Shawn Amador, LCSW is a clinical social worker in Illinois and practices with the use of Dramatherapy, CBT, mindfulness, and social skills training. Shawn is a school social worker and worked in the schools for 20 years. To date, Shawn is in private practice working with children up through young adults with social cognitive deficits, anxiety, attention difficulties and autism. Being a therapist, Shawn finds importance in using age and ability appropriate humor/fun in connecting with and teaching social skills in group and individual sessions.
Eleni S. Liossis, Psy.D., ATR, P-RDT: is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Registered Art Therapist, Professional Counselor, and a Provisional Drama Therapist. She has worked in various clinical settings, such as psychiatric hospitals, private schools & outpatient clinics; where she has acquired many specialties. Also a trained actor in Improvisational Theater from the Second City - Chicago, Dr. Liossis enjoys researching & applying the clinical applications of modified improvisational theater techniques & sketch comedy.

Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgements
Chapter One: History of Social Theatre®, Research, and Methodology
History of Social Theatre
Other Applications of Social Theatre
Research and Methodology
How Can Social Theatre be Applied?
Social Emotional Learning and Parts of Improv
Building Skill Based Activities from Scratch
Meaning of Humor in Social Theatre
Group Humor versus. 'Stand Up Comedy'
Rules of Improv in Application to Social Theatre Activities


Chapter Two: Establishing Group Flow with Boundaries and Rules
Helpful activities to keep Group Flow/structure
Rule Setting
Social Theatre Group Rules
Activity: Using Hands in Group Communication
"Silly Hands"
Activity: Non-Verbal Body Language in Group Communication
"Hot Sauce"
Activity: Sharing Group Attention (Who's in the Spotlight?)
"Attention Monster"
Activity: Sharing and Supporting Group Attention.
"Spotlight

Chapter Three: Strengthening Eye Contact and Deepening Social Relationships
Introduction
Activity: Building Connections through Eye Contact
"Circle Name Game with leveled challenges"
Activity: Connecting with Eye Contact
Activity: Strengthening Eye Contact
"Joint Attention Circle"
Activity: Practicing Joint Attention
"Passing the Ball"
Activity: Strengthening Joint Attention
"Mirroring the Mirror"

Chapter Four: Reading Social Cues
Introduction
Activity: Discovering Details
"What Changes"
Activity: Recognizing Others Wants
"You Wanted to See This?"
Activity: Group Problem Solving Using
"The Huddle"
Activity: Building Listening Skills
"Where did that come from?"
Role Play: Mutual Eye Gaze and Recognizing Boredom
Activity: What to do About Boredom and Cues

Chapter Five: Recognizing and Expressing Feelings

Introduction
Activity: Recognizing and Expressing Feelings
"The Chase"
Activity: Connecting Eyes and Emotions
"Eye Pass Emo Pass"
Activity: Tone Matching and Feelings Puppet
"Voice Message"
Activity: Matching Feelings and Empathy [Version A, B, C, and D]
Version A - "Reading Others Emotions"
Version B - "Reading Others Vocal Tones and Body/Facial Expressions"
Version C - "Matching Empathy to Feelings"
Version D - "Matching Empathy to Feelings - Exploring Anger"

Chapter Six: Conversation Strategies

Introduction
Activity: "Presents" in Conversation
PLAY: "Your Presence is a Present!"
Activity: Building Conversation Skills
"WTMI" (Way To Much Information)
Activity: Transition Word Association
Activity: "When I'm Stuck, Make Topic Bigger!" [Version A and Version B]
Version A - Bigger
Version B - Narrow
Activity: Social Wonder/World Wonder [Version A and Version B]
Version A - Activity
Version B - Role Play

Chapter Seven: EXPANDING Flexibility

Introduction
Activity: "I'm Stuffed!" A Role Play about Flexible Thinking and Boxes
Play: "I'm Stuffed"
Activity: Flexible Imaginations with One Word Storytelling
Activity: Morphing Clay
Activity: Acting with Props with Different Purpose
Activity: Flexible Imaginations with "Yes, Lets!!!!"


Chapter Eight: Defining Relationship Roles

Introduction
Level of Relationships and Behavior
Processing: What Are Relationships and Why are they Important?
Activity: Improvising a Relationship.
Activity: Defining Relationships
Relationship Roles and Response Worksheet
PLAY - "Interesting Shoes and Relationship Response"

Chapter Nine: Perspective Taking
Introduction
Activity: Perspective Taking
"Switching Perspectives"
Activity: Perspective Taking
"Testing Perspectives"
Activity: Perspective Taking
"Step Into My Mind"
Activity: Perspective Taking
"Step into My Body"
Activity: Refer to Chapter ? for Mirror the Mirror (add in)


Chapter Ten: Developing the Inner Monolog, Coping Skills, and Mindfulness

Introduction
Activity: Developing Inner Monologue
"The Shield"
Activity: Finding our Inner Monologue
Plays

Activity: Play about Negative Thinking: "Dr. Evil's Remote Control"

Mindfulness Activities


Activity: Group Mindfulness with "ZIP-ZAP-ZOP"

Activity: Being In The Moment
Activity: Metronome
Activity: Bubble Pop
Activity: Invisible Shield

Editorial Reviews

Safe, equitable methods of social emotional healing and learning through dramatic play for young neuro diverse and typical populations are in this book! Novel, transformative Social Theatre methods—intentional embodied approaches for community building and repair of trauma and developmental challenges are offered step by step. Useful handouts founded on the authors' research and clinical practices are a thoughtful book bonus.

Dr. Mimi Savage

This is a fabulous resource for all teachers and therapist to help children develop social skills and confidence while having fun. Shawn and Eleni have created a comprehensive guide to using Applied Improv based on their experience in Improvisational Theatre Games, Emotional learning and clinical practice. The games and exercises are clearly defined with excellent graphics to aid the teacher.

I love this book and will be using it in my classes and therapy. I hope this becomes a resource in every library. It is a jewel!

Margot Escott LCSW

Yes! Finally, an incredibly easy to use resource that provides clinicians, teachers, and parents with a fast, effective and engaging way to teach essential social emotional skills. Whether teaching a course or addressing specific needs, Amador and Liossis remove the daunting challenge of helping students who struggle and those who don't with these accessible, supportive, and fun activities.

Mary DeMichele Creator and author of One Rule Improv® and Improv 'n Ink®.