Join in the fun and action as this game gives you all the pieces of the puzzle to create one fun, and even whacky game! All you need to bring is your imagination and a few odds and ends from home. This game is great for all ages, and can even be played by one person for an audience. This article includes some basic rules and ideas, but the game becomes much more fun once you add your own spin! If you try to play this on a video call, have everyone write down all the 5X5 categories so that you can perform and play from the same options.
What You Need:
- a piece of paper, pen and scissors
- a basket/bowl
- household objects that do not break easily
- your imagination and some friends!
- a video capable device if playing online
How to Prepare:
- Think of 5 things in each of these 5 categories: Job/Occupation, Person/Character, Animal, Place/Setting, Object, Feeling/Emotion
- Write down all of your ideas and cut them into separate pieces of paper. Fold these individual pieces in half and place in the basket or bowl.
- Gather the objects you selected from around your house, and clear an area where you can act and play!
How to Play:
- Start with 1-3 players for each round of play.
- Each person selects 2 pieces of paper from the basket. If you happen to select two things from the same category, put one back and choose another. Make sure you have at least 1 object to use for each round of play. If you are playing as a single player, select 3 items from the basket.
- The scene begins with each person acting like or with the items they chose. They need to work together to make something of a unified scene, like you would see in a play, or in a movie. This is where your creativity comes into action! Take a moment and talk it over with the others who are playing, then go for it!
- For example, if Player A selects Horse and Neighborhood and Player B selects King and Broom, they need to incorporate those elements into their scene! Perhaps Player A would be the Horse that Player B, the King, rides through a Neighborhood and the Broom could be his sword! They could talk about the neighborhood on their ride and the King could pretend to slay a dragon with the broom. So many possibilities to explore!
- Players are allowed to have dialogue, but everything needs to be about what they have selected from the 5 categories. If the 4 items are King, Broom, Neighborhood and Horse, the scene needs to focus on those.
- Once the scene seems to wrap up, or enough time has passed (5 minutes is plenty of time!), move on to new players or new selections from the basket.
- The point is to be creative with the items, emotions, and characters that you choose as you select them for your categories. Use these as a jumping off point to create your own little play each time. Try to be funny, or not. Think outside the box as you are playing and see what comes out!
5X5 Category Ideas:
- Job/Occupation: teacher, police officer, doctor, artist, landscaper, actor, engineer, chef, dentist, waiter, shop owner, carpenter
- Person/Character: sister, brother, Mom, Dad, superhero, movie characters, people from history
- Animal: horse, panda, dog, cat, pig, donkey, llama, hamster, dragon (this category is a kid favorite!)
- Place/Setting: kingdom, neighborhood, Paris, Atlantis, the beach, the mountains, a small room, the backyard
- Object: plate, scarf, costume, hat, broom, plate, chair, phone, cereal box, book, pen/marker, stuffed animal
- Feeling: happy, silly, sad, angry, sleepy, confused, forgetful, musical, animated, sluggish
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Matthews Playhouse is a community based non-profit theatre committed to enriching the lives of children, adults, and families by inviting them to participate in the world of performing arts and education. In addition to its theater and music classes, the play offers many opportunities for children of all ages to get involved in the performing arts through musicals, plays and summer camps.
