WHOOSH: Howto Play Large Group Warm Up Improv Games

• Category: Warm-Up, Energy, Focus, Movement, Creativity
• CLICK HERE to download PDF

Whoosh

How To Play

• Setup: Have all students stand in a circle or oval, ensuring no one is directly in front of or behind another.
• Introducing the Game: Explain that the most important part of “Whoosh” is following the energy around the circle with their eyes.
• Basic “Whoosh” Pass:
  1. Start by demonstrating and having students practice passing a “Whoosh” to the left: Two hands shovel the energy to the player immediately to their left, accompanied by a clear “WHOOSH” sound.
  2. Then, practice passing a “Whoosh” to the right using the same action and sound.
• Game Play – Core Principle: Emphasize that there’s no single “right” way to play. Encourage students to invent new ways to pass the energy and heighten the fun, but ensure they understand the basic actions first.
• Introducing Special Moves (Gradually): Once students are comfortable with the basic “Whoosh,” gradually introduce the following special moves. You can teach them one or two at a time, letting students practice each before adding more.
  • BONK: To reverse the flow of a “Whoosh,” a player smashes one fist into their palm and exclaims “BONK!“
  • RAMP: To skip the next player, a player points both hands over the head of the person next to them, saying “RAMP!” The person being “ramped” ducks down, screams (in a goofy, semi-realistic way to avoid the “car jumping over”), and the energy passes to the player after them.
  • PIZZA: A player can pantomime passing a pizza across the circle to any player, sending the “Whoosh” energy directly to them.
  • SPIDERMAN: A player breaks out their web-slingers, exclaiming “SPIDERMAN! FWOOP FWOOP!” (with a web shooting sound from each wrist). This player and the player they are looking at across the circle are elastically drawn to each other and switch positions in the circle, continuing the flow from the new position.
  • BOOTYLICIOUS: A player yells “BOOTYLICIOUS!” and EVERYONE in the circle gets funky, doing a quick club-style dance or “bust a move” for 2-3 beats. After this collective moment, the game resumes with a standard “Whoosh” to the next person in the circle.

Tricks & Variations

Here are some tips and variations for teachers leading “Whoosh”:

• Observation is Key: Continuously remind students to follow the energy with their eyes. This keeps everyone engaged and ready for their turn.
• Energetic Delivery: Encourage loud, clear sounds and big, committed movements for each action to keep the energy high.
• Gradual Introduction: Don’t introduce all the special moves at once. Start with “Whoosh” and “Bonk,” then add others as the group gets comfortable.
• Embrace Creativity: After the group masters the established moves, invite students to invent their own special moves and teach them to the class.
• Positive Reinforcement: Celebrate big energy, clear passes, and creative interpretations.

Benefits

“Whoosh” offers several key benefits for students:

• Enhances Focus and Presence: Students must constantly pay attention to the flow of energy and anticipate their turn.
• Boosts Communication and Connection: Promotes clear non-verbal cues and energetic verbal responses, fostering group rhythm and awareness of others.
• Fosters a Lighthearted Atmosphere: The goofy actions, sounds, and freedom to be creative make the game highly enjoyable and reduce inhibition.
• Develops Quick Thinking: Players need to quickly decide which action to use and where to send the energy.
• Encourages Physicality and Expression: The varied actions get students moving and expressing themselves creatively.

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