What are you doing?

• Category: Warm-Up, Pantomime, Quick Thinking, Acceptance
• CLICK HERE to download PDF

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What Are You Doing?

How To Play

• Setup: Have students stand in a line (or two) or a circle.
• Introducing the Game (MC Set Up):
  • Ask the group for an activity suggestion (e.g., “Give me an activity – work, okay, hobby…”).
  • Instruct the first player to start by acting out this suggested activity using pantomime.
  • Explain that the next player will almost immediately step up to the first player and say, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?“
• Game Play:
  • This is a fast-paced game designed to develop critical thinking and pantomime skills.
  • When it’s a player’s turn to enter the scene, they will start by saying, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” to the player currently pantomiming.
  • The player being asked will continue their current activity while quickly responding with a different activity than what they are actually doing. For instance, if they are miming “brushing teeth,” they might say “I’m swimming!”
  • Crucially, players should embody the mindset of “NO PROBLEM, I GOT THIS!!!” – never thinking “WHAT, I CAN’T DO THAT.”
  • The player who just asked “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” will then immediately begin pantomiming the new activity that was just named (e.g., swimming).
  • The previous player (who was miming brushing teeth and said “I’m swimming”) then exits.
  • The game continues quickly, with the next player stepping up, asking “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?”, and the cycle repeating.
  • Tips for Players: Don’t stop to think or start doing new activities when asked. Just say the first thing that comes to mind as a new activity. You can even pre-plan a few ideas while waiting in line.

Tricks & Variations

Here are some tips and variations for teachers leading “What Are You Doing?”:

• Embrace Spontaneity: Encourage players to trust their first instincts for responses, even if they seem silly.
• Clear Pantomime: Remind players to commit to their physical actions, making their pantomime clear even if their verbal response is different.
• Maintain Pace: Keep the energy high and the transitions quick to maintain the fast-paced nature of the game.
• “No Problem” Mindset: Reiterate that there’s no “wrong” answer; the goal is to respond quickly and accept the challenge.

Benefits

“What Are You Doing?” offers several key benefits for students:

• Enhances Focus and Presence: Requires players to be fully in the moment, both observing the current activity and quickly generating a new one.
• Boosts Communication and Connection: Promotes clear non-verbal communication through pantomime and quick verbal exchanges, creating a strong group rhythm.
• Fosters a Lighthearted Atmosphere: The rapid-fire nature and often humorous juxtapositions of action and dialogue create a fun and energetic environment.
• Develops Critical Thinking: Players must quickly process information and generate a new, unrelated response on the spot.
• Improves Pantomime Skills: Provides extensive practice in clearly miming various activities.

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