Up, Down, Freeze & Project

Child development / Drama games / Up down freeze project

This high-energy game gets kids up, moving and exploring vocal projection in fun and imaginative ways.

In this game, children will follow simple actions while learning different sounds, volumes and silly styles, all while burning off some energy.

It's the perfect warm-up for building confidence, coordination and strong, clear voices. Plus, it's a whole lot of fun!

How to play

1. Teach the commands

Ask the children to stand in their own space. Explain and demonstrate each command clearly:

Up - Stand tall with hands in the air
Down - Crouch low to the ground
Freeze - Stand completely still and silent
One leg - Balance on one leg
Heads - Hands on your head
Shoulders - Hands on your shoulders
Turn - Run in a circle and face the opposite way
Go - Walk around the room, avoiding others

2. Add vocal commands

Next, introduce the fun vocal actions:

Mouse - Say your name in a teeny tiny mouse voice
Monkey - Say your name in a medium-volume monkey voice
Superhero - Say your name loudly and proudly like a superhero (encourage strong projection)

3. Now it's time to play the game!

Ask the children to walk around the space. Call out the commands in random order, mixing movement and vocal instructions. Keep it fast-paced and fun!

4. Use combinations

Try two-part commands like: "Go... Turn!" or "Down"... Superhero!"

What it teaches

Listening and response - reacting quickly to changing cues
Vocal control - exploring different volume levels and projection
Posture and balance - using the whole body with awareness
Confidence - speaking loudly in front of others
Coordination - combining movement and voice together

Variations to try

Add new characters: Say your name like a robot, a witch, or an opera singer
Command leaders: Let a confident child be the caller for a round
Freeze poses: Instead of "Freeze", ask them to freeze in a silly animal shape

Principal's notes

This game combines everything we love at Perform - movement, voice, imagination and lots of laughter! It's ideal for developing projection without pressure.

Lucy Quick, Principal of Perform.