The Activity Bank

The GIVE Activity Bank is a resource bank of short activities or skill-based tasks that already include supports and accommodations to meet a range of students’ needs. These activities can be easily added to your lesson—with small adjustments for your unique students and classroom—to make it more inclusive.

These activities have been submitted as is by New York City Teaching Artists from New Victory Theater, ArtsConnection, and Community-Word Project.

  • This is Not a Stick

    Ages: Early Childhood (PK-2), Upper Elementary (3-5)
    Art Forms: Theater

    This theater game builds community and encourages students to expand their ideas of what something could be by acting it out.

  • Underscoring

    Ages: Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)
    Art Forms: Theater, Music

    This activity gets students thinking about how tempo and dynamics connect to mood. 

  • Using Scissors Like a Pro

    Ages: Early Childhood (PK-2), Upper Elementary (3-5)
    Art Forms: Visual Arts

    This activity helps students learn how to use scissors safely and effectively.

  • Web of Life

    Ages: Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle School (6-8)
    Art Forms: Visual Arts, Theater, Dance

    This team-building activity invites students thinking about the interconnectedness of the world around us.

  • What are You Doing?

    Ages: Upper Elementary (3-5)
    Art Forms: Theater

    This activity develops focus and creativity, and reinforces the concept of having an activity versus action. It utilizes physicality, voice, and collaboration.

  • What’s Different?

    Ages: Early Childhood (PK-2), Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)
    Art Forms: Theater

    This activity involves practicing observational skills.

  • Zany Characters (Exquisite Corpses)

    Ages: Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle School (6-8)
    Art Forms: Visual Arts

    In this playful visual arts activity students create a collaborative artwork, promoting teamwork and community building.

  • Zip Zap Zop

    Ages: Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle School (6-8)
    Art Forms: Theater, Dance

    This game gets the class on the same page energetically and develops awareness of the importance of eye contact.