Preparation: Make sure the children are familiar with the meaning of the
term “class clown,” and tell them to prepare for when it’s their turn.
How to Play: If there’s a general bad mood in the room, one child who volunteers
gets to be the class clown. This is a much harder assignment than you
might think, because getting a whole group of children to laugh takes self-control
and courage. The class clown tells her very best jokes, and tries to tell them
cleverly. If they want, children can perform a skit alone or with a friend; they
can sing, rap, or show the group funny pictures (from the Internet, for example).
The class clown has five minutes to cheer up her compatriots. If after the
the time runs out the leader holds a vote and the majority of the children feel
cheered up, she gets a small prize or reward.
Note: To encourage positive votes, the leader should remind the children how
hard it is to perform for and be judged by others. Sensitive children should probably
not be encouraged to play the class clown unless they want to.
