Act like you have dropped something
Practice acting like you have dropped something by rehearsing realistic gestures, facial expressions, and sound effects to create a short believable performance.
Step-by-step guide to act like you have dropped something
Step 1
Pick one small soft object to pretend you dropped.
Step 2
Find a clear practice space with room to move.
Step 3
Place a mirror nearby or face a blank wall so you can watch yourself.
Step 4
Decide the story behind the drop by choosing one reason such as clumsy surprised or slippery.
Step 5
Warm up your face by raising your eyebrows and smiling widely five times.
Step 6
Warm up your hands and shoulders by shaking them out three times.
Step 7
Practice the reaching motion slowly toward where you will drop the object three times.
Step 8
Practice releasing the object while making a matching facial expression two times.
Step 9
Practice one sound effect that matches the drop and time it with your release two times.
Step 10
Put the reach release face and sound together and perform the full short act three times using your chosen story.
Step 11
Share your finished performance on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use if we don't have the 'small soft object' to pretend you dropped?
If you don't have a small soft object from step 1, substitute a rolled-up sock, a small stuffed animal, or a foam pom-pom as a safe drop item.
I'm having trouble coordinating the face, hand release, and sound—how do I fix that?
Slow down and follow steps 6–8 by practicing the reaching motion slowly three times, rehearsing the release with the matching facial expression two times, and timing the single sound effect two times before putting them together.
How can I adapt this activity for younger or older kids?
For toddlers, have a parent model the warm-ups (raise eyebrows and smile five times; shake hands and shoulders three times) and reduce repetitions to one each, while older kids can invent more complex stories in step 4 and record extra takes.
How can we extend or personalize the final performance before sharing it on DIY.org?
Personalize the act by choosing a specific backstory from step 4, adding a simple costume or prop, filming the three full performances from different angles, and uploading the best take to DIY.org with a short caption.
Watch videos on how to act like you have dropped something
The Dropped Object Experiment | Black & Veatch Safety Awareness
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Facts about acting and drama for kids
🧠 Acting a surprised reaction (big eyes, open mouth) can help your brain actually feel more surprised—body can lead feeling!
🎬 Actors often rehearse the same tiny action or reaction dozens to hundreds of times so it looks natural on cue.
😮 Certain facial expressions like surprise and happiness are recognized across many cultures, so faces are powerful storytellers.
🔊 Foley artists recreate dropping sounds with everyday items—keys, coins, or cereal boxes can stand in for many noises.
🎭 Mime and pantomime go back to ancient Greece and Rome, where silent performers told stories with gestures instead of words.
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