- Definition
Mime is a type of acting where performers tell a story or show feelings using only their body movements and facial expressions, without speaking.
Pretending to pull a heavy rope is mime because you use your body to show the struggle without a real rope.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Mime is like playing pretend without any toys or sounds, just using your body to show what's happening.
Ask your child: How would you pretend to brush your teeth without a toothbrush?
Common mix-up: Kids might think mime is just about making funny faces. It's actually about telling a clear story or showing an emotion using your whole body, not just your face.
Examples
- Acting like you are trapped inside an invisible box.
- Showing you are cold by shivering and hugging yourself, without saying 'I'm cold'.
mime is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
