Theatre in the Classroom: Zip Zap Zop!

Zip Zap Zop has to be one of the coolest theatre improv games or strategies I know. It helps encourage choices, allows participates to be aware of their pace and helps them focus on the tone of their voices. There are so many ways you can incorporate this into your class and present a sense of fun energy. If you ever need a brain break, try this activity.

Zip Zap Zop is all about expelling energy to others participating in the activity and using your body. This will definitely stir up the blood flow if students become a bit disinterested in class. With this game it's best to begin by practicing the terms that must be used. The instructor begins by having students repeat each word (Zip, Zap, Zop) after him or her. Practice these words as many times needed so everyone knows them. You really shouldn't have to practice them more than five times.

After reviewing the terms, explain to students that you have a great burst of energy within you and need to charge someone else with it. So using your eyes and your hands (you have to clap your hands and make a flash like movement to the other person), the instructor will demonstrate passing the force of energy to another participate within the circle (oh yeah, make sure you're in a circle). When the instructor passes the energy, he or she must concentrate on that person and say Zip! Hand and eye coordination is extremely important because you want to make sure that the person receiving the energy, knows they are the target. Explain that the person who receives the energy will now have to pass it along to someone else and say Zap! The next person will pass the energy to someone else and say Zop! Students must understand that the energy must go to another person and not some random place in space.

This continues with the energy being passed across the circle (pay attention to my wording of 'across' the circle). I would often have students try to pass the energy to someone beside them, which can seem a bit unfair.  So encourage students to transfer the energy to someone else not beside them. Normally with this game someone tends to say the incorrect words, instead of the next term in the pattern. It's a good idea to practice this for a few rounds and allow everyone to stay in the game before it becomes a competition. Help them know, understand and feel comfortable before penalizing. In addition to repetition of the game, explain to students that the goal is also to transfer the energy quickly with a constant rhythm. So pace will become quite important over time as students continue to practice. Also discuss with students that they should avoid pausing and to keep a constant rhythm that will help the game flow.

Now don't be surprised when this game becomes competitive, because students objective will be to get someone out and to be the last one standing once it becomes a competition. And that's okay for it to be one. After practicing a few rounds or playing a few times, begin to notice when students pause or say the incorrect term. If a participate does either, they're out of the game. This will continue on until you're down to two players (FYI - when it get's down to four players it's a given that students will pass energy to someone beside them, but do encourage for them to try and pass to someone across from them at times). Also, when it gets down to the last few players, this is where it really gets good because there are only a few participates and the energy and pace becomes much faster. 

It's an awesome activity, so try it if your class ever has down time or need a brain break! You can also find examples of how the game is played on YouTube, if you need a visual.

Alternatives:

Now how can you factor in academic content? Hmmmm...

1. You can use this with math when practicing multiples of a number. Instead of saying Zip, Zap Zop, use the multiples of a particular number your students are studying to encourage them to learn them.
2. For lower elementary (and maybe some upper elementary), you can definitely tie in vocabulary words from the week. I would suggest only using three words in the activity. Going beyond that of course can be difficult to keep up with throughout the game.
3. You can also use it when discussing groups of people. For instance, when you're focusing on a unit about Native Americans, African Americans in history or even events. Who were some of the major figures or events that took place that are imperative for students to know?
4. Have students think of a character from a read aloud in class. As students say Zip, Zap, Zop and use their body to transfer the energy, they can embody or impersonate a character from the read aloud. How would that character sound based on what you read in class? How would that character move? How fast or slow would the character move?

These are just some simple examples to help make the learning environment fun and engaging. I've used the multiplication activity in class and it showed me exactly who needed to learn facts, but it also helped students push themselves to learn those facts.

Hope this is something you consider implementing into your class. If you have questions, you can easily post them in the comments or message me on IG or Facebook. 

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