Silent Commercial: Sell an Impossible Invention

Groups of four prepare a 45-second commercial without words to sell a ridiculous invention, with a single sign showing the slogan. It works on body storytelling with a problem-solution-happy-ending structure.

How to play

1. The teacher explains how an ad is built: a problem, the invention appears, the problem is solved, and a closing slogan. Show a 20-second example (4 min).
2. Each group draws a card (socks that pair themselves, a backpack that weighs half as much, an umbrella that also dries you, an alarm clock that chases you) and decides how to show the problem without words (8 min).
3. Rehearse with the slogan on poster board, five words max, shown only at the end (9 min).
4. Commercial break: all the ads back to back, like on TV. The audience guesses the invention before the sign appears (4 min).

Rules

• No ad uses real brands or copies known commercials.
• No jokes about bodies or about real people.
• The whole group appears in the ad.
• Each ad lasts one minute max.

Variations

Adaptations

• Visual impairment: they take a big-movement role guided by a partner, and each ad is described to them.
• Hearing impairment: the activity is visual; use signals to start and finish.
• Shy students: they can play the “happy customer” with a single closing gesture or hold the sign.

Learning goals

• Tell a short, clearly structured story with the body.
• Exaggerate gestures so they're understood without words.
• Share out roles and create as a group in little time.

Equipment for a class of 25

• invention cards: 8
• poster boards: 8
• markers: 8

Teacher tip

Cards with absurd inventions spark more ideas than starting from scratch. Run the commercial break straight through, with no comments between ads, to keep the energy up.

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