Helping Hands: The Borrowed-Arms Expert
In pairs, one student talks like an expert with their hands behind their back while the partner, standing behind, provides the arms and gestures without knowing what will be said. It builds coordination between two bodies, active listening, improv, and shared humor.
How to play
- Demonstrate with a student (2 min): you stand in front with hands behind you; they stand behind, slide their arms under your armpits, and gesture a recipe you explain.
- In pairs: A is the head, talks and faces the audience; B is the arms, close behind with their face hidden behind A's shoulder.
- Practice (6 min): each pair improvises a 1-minute tutorial (doing makeup, building furniture) with a prop, then switches roles. The head must justify whatever the arms do.
- Showcase (8 min): pairs take turns presenting a 1-minute tutorial on a topic the audience suggests.
- Wrap-up (2 min): discuss which pairs looked like one person and why.
Rules
- The head never brings their own hands out or corrects the arms.
- The arms don't touch the head's face except for a gentle, announced gesture, like scratching the nose.
- Safety: props are light and soft, and nothing is thrown or brought near anyone's eyes.
Variations
Easier
Do the scene with both partners side by side facing the audience, with the arms partner copying the gestures the head describes.
Standard
Borrowed arms from behind with a 1-minute tutorial and a prop.
Harder
Scene for four: two experts in a TV interview, each with borrowed arms, who also have to interact with each other.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: a student in a wheelchair can be the head, with the arms partner behind the chair, or be the arms from the side.
- Touch sensitivity or autism: if close contact is uncomfortable, the arms partner stands one step to the side and gestures like a sign interpreter.
- Shyness: start as the arms, who doesn't talk and whose face is hidden, before trying the head role.
Learning goals
- Coordinate improvised gestures and words with a partner.
- Listen actively and adapt to a partner's offers.
- Enjoy shared stage humor respectfully.
Equipment for a class of 25
- assorted equipment
Teacher tip
The best scenes happen when the head talks slowly and leaves gaps for the arms; if pairs rush, ask them to pause after every sentence.
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