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Basics of Improvisation

Objective: Students will demonstrate an understanding of improvisation by performing a short improv show for other students in the school.
Subject: Improvisation - Acting
Class Level: Beginning
Main Concepts: Relationships, settings, pantomime
National Standards:

CONTENT STANDARD 2: Acting by developing, communicating, and sustaining characters in improvisations and informal or formal productions.

CONTENT STANDARD 4: Directing by interpreting dramatic texts and organizing and conducting rehearsals for informal or formal productions.
Author: Briana Beatse

Lesson Plans

Lesson 1: How do I know you and where are we?

Students will demonstrate an ability to establish a relationship and setting in an improv scene by performing a short improv scene with relationship and setting established for the rest of the class.

Lesson 2: What are you doing?

Students will demonstrate an ability to add pantomime movements into an improv scene by creating a short improv scene with 3 different pantomimed movements in it.

Lesson 3: Mafia

Students will demonstrate an ability to create a character with background information by playing the game Mafia and creating alibis and accusations.

Lesson 4: Character Quirks

Students will demonstrate an ability to create a character-quirk by performing a short improv scene with a partner that includes a character choice of body movement or voice.

Lesson 5: Playing Off of Other People

Students will demonstrate an ability to play off of other people’s ideas by playing games such as freeze tag and pull the line.

Lesson 6: Style Changes Everything

Students will demonstrate their understanding of how the style can change a scene by playing the Style Changing game.

Lesson 7: Practice Makes Fun!

Students will demonstrate an ability to improve their improvisation skills by practicing their games for their upcoming improv show.

Lesson 8: Performance!!!

Students will demonstrate an understanding of improvisation basics by participating in an improv show for other students in the school.

Author's Notes:

Prior Experience: Students may have played improv games before and have a general understand of what improv is. Students have discussed objectives and tactics in monologues and have performed scenes and monologues.