Purpose:

The purpose of this warm-up/game is improv, listening, projection, focus, and teamwork.

Space Needed:

Any space. You can use a stage for the three volunteers to stand on, have them stand at the front of the room, go outside and use an outdoor space, etc.

Directions:

  1. Ask for three volunteers to be the three headed expert.
  2. These volunteers will take a place in front of the audience.
  3. The audience will provide a topic that the three heads are an expert on.
  4. Each head (volunteer) may only say one word at a time.
  5. Together the three headed expert will explain and elaborate on the topic given one word at a time.
  6. The goal is to be as fluent as possible, to project, and to listen to what the other heads have said so what you say next makes sense (more or less).
  7. It is ok if something does not make sense! Then it becomes funny.
  8. The explanation can be as mundane or as silly as the students make it to be.
  9. This warm-up/game can be repeated numerous times with different volunteers.
  10. Below are some extensions you can use to ad levels of difficulty and to change up the warm-up/game.

Extensions:

  • Instead of a three headed expert you can have a 4 or 5 headed expert to make it more challenging as there are more heads to provide answers.
  • You can also increase the number of words each head can say. Example, instead of 1 word they can each say 2-3 words.
  • Once trust and a community has been built in the class you can also make this an elimination game, where if a head does not project or hesitates before saying their word(s), then they are out and a new volunteer takes their place.
  • This could also be used in different units to get topics flowing for tableaux, mini scenes, etc. Use what the experts have said and turn it into tableaux frames to tell a story about the topic.
  • Lastly, you could have a competition between two three headed experts. Each will have their own topic and will take turns explaining the topic with their expert opinion, then at the end the audience votes on who was the stronger expert. - Again you would want a trusting community built in your class before you begin taking more risky steps in a game.