Physical/Mental Drama Diversity Activities

Drama class offers an excellent opportunity for young people to appreciate one another’s differences, and to recognize the ways we are alike. Drama class is a place for inclusion, not exclusion, and therefore can offer a refuge for differently abled students to find a sense of belonging. These activities are designed to help students develop empathy for people whose bodies and minds function differently from what is considered to be the norm.

Use this material at your own discretion, and in keeping with your school’s policies.

IMPORTANT: Before doing any diversity activity, it is important to have already developed trust among your group. This means that the members of your class/group already know one another and there is an atmosphere of mutual support among the students. Do not lead diversity lessons or any other lesson that could be sensitive for some students at the beginning of the year/semester or with a new group.

Here is a link to our series of activities for building ensemble.

Included in this 20-page tutorial are:

• 16 original activities and drama games that teach about accepting one another’s differences.
• A forum theatre activity.
• List of 14 story books by age and topic that can be used to teach physical/mental diversity.
• Two activities for use with the story books.
• Selection of Drama Notebook plays that help teach physical/mental diversity.