Living things move, grow, and respond to their environment. When acting living things, we show these qualities through our body.

Examples of Living Things to Act

• Animals — A chicken scratching for food, a snake sliding, a fish swimming, a cow walking
• People — A farmer planting, a child playing, an old person walking slowly
• Plants — A tree swaying in wind, a flower opening slowly in the morning

How to Act Living Things

1. Observe how the living thing moves
2. Copy the speed, direction, and style of movement
3. Use facial expressions to show the character's feelings
4. Keep movements smooth and natural

Non-living things do not move on their own. When acting them, we show their size, shape, and how they are used.

Examples of Non-Living Things to Act

• Objects — A bicycle, a door, a clock, a pot, a umbrella
• Vehicles — A car, a bicycle, a boat
• Natural objects — A mountain, a river, a rock

How to Act Non-Living Things

1. Show the shape of the object with your hands and body
2. Demonstrate how the object is used
3. Show if the object is heavy or light, big or small
4. Use冻结 stillness to show the object is not alive

Mime and pantomime are ways of telling a story using only body movements.

Mime

Mime acts out actions as if invisible objects are present. For example, you might mime:

• Climbing a ladder
• Drinking from a cup
• Sweeping the floor

Pantomime

Pantomime tells a simple story through gestures and movements without any words. It often includes:

• Clear facial expressions
• Exaggerated movements that everyone can see
• A beginning, middle, and end

Music can help make acting more expressive. When you act with music:

• Move slowly during soft, slow music
• Move quickly and energetically during loud, fast music
• Let the rhythm guide your body

Props and costumes help make your acting clearer.

• Masks can help show different characters
• Simple costumes like a hat or scarf can show who you are
• Ngoma drums can provide rhythm for your movements

1. Choose a living or non-living thing to act
2. Think about how it moves or looks
3. Practice the movements in front of a mirror
4. Perform for a friend or classmate
5. Ask for feedback and improve

A bicycle is non-living. To act it:

1. Hold the handlebars (invisible) with both hands
2. Move your legs as if pedaling
3. Lean slightly forward as you "ride"
4. Show stopping by squeezing imaginary brakes
5. You can add vocalization like "ring ring" for the bell

A chicken is a living thing. To act it:

1. Walk with short, quick steps
2. Bend forward slightly
3. Make scratching motions with one foot
4. Peck at the ground with your head
5. Add sounds like "cluck cluck" if using vocalization

In Tanzania, acting skills are used in school dramas, community plays, and cultural performances during festivals like Eid or Christmas. For example, when your school prepares a play about a farmer planting maize, you can use mime to show digging and planting without saying a word, making your performance clear to everyone in the audience, including younger children who may not yet read well.