Role Playing

Anytime you can get the students out of their seats and moving is a win. Add in a role play with a story and you are doubling your chances they will remember the lesson! All students get a chance to participate and they really enjoy the movement, laughter and activity. They physically participate in the learning.

I especially like role plays that involve very little set up, and can be modified, stopped and started easily. Learning about the regions of Europe provides a great opportunity for role playing.

When you compare the United States to Europe, Europe has so many distinct cultures. Why is that? One reason is the landforms that separated people.

To role play this lesson, I introduced the topic of the many cultures.

We then rearrange the room as such: 

The chairs are the Alps and the open spaces are the Danube River. 

 

Students sit on the floor on various sides of the mountains (desks) and move their way around the room on the river (floor) as I discuss trade, weather, ease of movement etc. 

In addition to physically learning about the isolation of some European cultures, we have a great time laughing and moving about the classroom.