Objectives:
· Introduce students to the instructor
· Orient the students to the school, course and subject
· Build authority with students, while establishing rules and expectations of the classroom
· Motivate the class for the future of beginning drama

Activities:
1. Introduction:
Greet students at the door
Take roll and develop a seating chart (alphabetically)
Announcements
Introduce self and share personal history (let them know a little bit about yourself)
· Name game:
    - Get all students in a big circle, with you in the middle and then explain the rules of the game. The person in the middle has to go up to someone, shake their hand and say, "Hi, my name is _________." The other person has to say, "What?" Then the middle person repeats his/her name, only to get "what?" a second time. Finally, The entire circle (including the middle person) says, "He/she said his/her name is ________!!f" Then that person says, ''Oh, hi________ , it's nice to meet you, my name is_______ Then the "what" person goes to the middle and has to go up to somebody else. You, the instructor, start it out. You might want to tell the students to come up with some reason of why they cannot or will not hear the person that is introducing themselves. Tell them to think about that reason the entire time the person is talking to them. For example, there is a killer bee buzzing around your head, or you do not understand English, or you are angry at something and this person is bothering you. (Since this is the first day, you might even write down a bunch of things for the students to be thinking about, to make this exercise easier.)
 2. Orientation:
· Why Beginning Drama? Why is it important to be in this class? why are you in this class?
· What Beginning Drama will cover.
· Ask students what they think they will learn about in this class.
· Ask students what they do not want to cover in this class. Write all answers on the board. Work together with your class to develop a course agenda (this will help build report with your students and discover the needs of your students). In doing this, you will be able to explain the reasons for having to do some things, and why you do not have to do others.
· Explain course syllabus to class
· Explain course objectives
· Go over schedule with class
· Introduce and cover classroom policies, rules and regulations.
· Have students read through student/ teacher/parent contracts
Explain exercises, games and projects
Explain journals
Show class text book
3. Conclusion and Motivation:
· (If time) Play a fun Theatre Game
· "Kitty Wants a Comer" - rules attached (and explain why this game can help them, so they can see relevancy)
· Finally, end the class with trying to memorize each student's name. Tell them you will give them extra bonus participation points for the day, if you fail. (Students like to see teachers vulnerable and human, this will be great for bonding).
· Remind class to take home the policy contract for them and their parents to sign; have them return it the next day. Dismiss class at bell (create pattern for ending the class)

                                                                                      Created by Patrick McChesney
 

 KITTY WANTS A CORNER

Students are to arrange chairs into a circle. one less chair than students. One student is picked as the kitty. The kitty walks up to any students and asks. "kitty wants a corner." The one asked says. "Go see my neighbor". and points to his/her right or left.  The kitty goes to one of them and asks again. "kitty wants a corner".  Again they answer. "Go ask my neighbor" and points right or left. While this continues, at any time, any person in the circle can (with eye contact, gesture, or movement) change seats with another person in the group. Many can move at a time. The kitty, however, will try to take an empty seat. If she/he succeeds, the one left without a seat is the new kitty.  Kitty can be angry; plead or ask in any manner but must say the word,. "kitty wants a corner". Usually, the movement happens behind kitty and she/he must concentrate on peripheral vision, as well as keeping the dialogue going. No pushing, shoving or talking to anyone, other than the lines between kitty and the neighbors.  This game encourages non-verbal communication and is a great concentration game. it is also great for a warm-up to increase energy.