Why Pretend Film Set works

Pretend Film Set works best as one connected sequence built around role, sequence, and believable pretend cause-and-effect. Run a pretend film set by separating planning, acting and directing into distinct roles for one very short scene. Begin by asking the child to describe the scene in one sentence, and let that result prepare them to choose where the actor starts and what action happens.

Set up — Describe the scene in one sentence

Prepare household items before the child is asked to describe the scene in one sentence. Make sure that opening step is comfortable before the child moves on to choose where the actor starts and what action happens. Keep props ordinary and safe, and do not copy real hazardous, medical, or emergency procedures during the opening attempt to describe the scene in one sentence.

Step 2 — Choose where the actor starts and what action happens

Allow room for a mistake while the child tries to choose where the actor starts and what action happens. A self-correction here is more useful than fast repetition before the child moves on to have the director call the beginning of the take.

Step 3 — Have the director call the beginning of the take

After the child tries to have the director call the beginning of the take, ask one brief question about the result. Connect their answer to the next request to perform the short scene once without stopping for perfection rather than explaining it for them.

Step 4 — Perform the short scene once without stopping for perfection

Have the child perform the short scene once without stopping for perfection before offering a solution. What happens here should help them understand how to give one note and repeat only if the group wants another take, especially compared with the earlier request to have the director call the beginning of the take.

Step 5 — Give one note and repeat only if the group wants another take

Give the child time to give one note and repeat only if the group wants another take and notice the result. The following instruction to give one note and repeat only if the group wants another take should use what they learned after previously trying to perform the short scene once without stopping for perfection.

What to notice before Give one note and repeat only if the…

Do not judge the activity only by whether the sequence reaches the point where the instruction is to give one note and repeat only if the group wants another take. Pay attention to whether the next pretend action follows from what the characters just did during the transition from have the director call the beginning of the take to perform the short scene once without stopping for perfection.

Make Have the director call the beginning of… easier or harder

If the child loses the thread while trying to have the director call the beginning of the take, use one role, one place, and one short problem. When that step is secure, add a second responsibility, clue, customer, or consequence that must be handled in order without changing the setup that leads to perform the short scene once without stopping for perfection.

Finish after Give one note and repeat only if the…

Give one note and repeat only if the group wants another take. That is the natural place to end this version of Pretend Film Set. For another activity, use the activity search or create one with the activity generator.