Improvisation Lesson Plans

Lesson 1 of 9 in Unit Two: Improvisation Basics Unit

Accepting & Building on Offers

by Lindsay Johnson

In this first improvisation lesson, students will work with the definitions of the key vocabulary terms by adding their own offers to improvised exercises and accepting and building on peer offers. Students will also give written and verbal peer feedback on the first row (ACCEPTING AND BUILDING ON OFFERS) row of the Improvisation Rubric, using language such as “improvisation” and “offers.”

Slide Deck

# Improvisation # middle school friendly

African Fable and Storytelling

by Desiree Dabney

Students will create their own improvisational piece to an African fable called “Anansi: The Spider.” This lesson explores the different ways to tell a story through storytelling improvisation, which allows students to discover different movements, voices, and listening skills. In African theatre, there are many ways to tell a story; improv is often used when learning about fables.

Slide Deck

# Improvisation # bipoc

Lesson 2 of 3 in Improv Unit

Characterization and One Focus

by Anna Porter

Students explore Characterization and One Focus by participating in activities and playing Ding, Emotional Waiter and Party Quirks.

Slide Deck Lesson 2

# Improvisation # improv # character development # games

Lesson 3 of 4 in Impowerment Improv Unit

Confidence

by Jennine Profeta

This lesson allows students to practice and apply attributes of confidence.

# Improvisation # improv

Lesson 3 of 12 in Unit Three: Building Improvised Scenes Unit

Conflict and Objectives

by Lindsay Johnson

In this lesson, we’ll look at multiple perspectives that can lead to a conflict. In pairs, students will improvise a short scene in which each character has an objective that conflicts with the other character’s objective.

Slide Deck

# Improvisation # middle school friendly

Lesson 3 of 3 in Improv Unit

Conflict and Tell a Complete Story

by Anna Porter

Students explore the importance and types of conflict as well as the importance of telling a complete story. Students will demonstrate their understanding of the rules of improvisation through their final performance in Freeze as well as a written quiz.

Slide Deck Lesson 3

# Improvisation # improv # character development # games

Duet Improv

by Lindsay Price

Improvising in pairs is an excellent training ground to improve listening and cooperation skills, and to practice exploring character and conflict. Students will read and respond to a Duet Improv introduction sheet, then apply their knowledge
through pairs Improv exercises and reflect on the experience.

# Improvisation # improv

Lesson 2 of 4 in Impowerment Improv Unit

Failure

by Jennine Profeta

This lesson encourages students to embrace failure as a positive aspect rather than negative.

# Improvisation # improv

Lesson 10 of 12 in Unit Three: Building Improvised Scenes Unit

Final Scene Rehearsal

by Lindsay Johnson

In this lesson, students will use a variety of methods they’ve learned so far during this unit to communicate meaning in a scene: setting, pantomime, relationship clues, objectives, stakes, and tactics. Students will complete a Rehearsal Checklist.

Slide Deck

# Improvisation # middle school friendly

Lesson 1 of 6 in Improvisation Unit

Guideline 1: Accept the Offer

by Lindsay Price

Students are introduced to Guideline 1 “Accept the Offer” and apply their knowledge through a warm-up and improv exercise.

# Improvisation

Lesson 2 of 6 in Improvisation Unit

Guideline 2: Make Choices

by Lindsay Price

Students are introduced to Guideline 2 “Make Choices/Bring Information to a Scene” and apply their knowledge through a warm-up and improv exercise.

# Improvisation

Lesson 3 of 6 in Improvisation Unit

Guideline 3: Make the Active Choice

by Lindsay Price

Students are introduced to Guideline 3 “Take the Active Choice” and apply their knowledge through a warm-up and improv exercise.

# Improvisation

Lesson 4 of 6 in Improvisation Unit

Guideline 4: Make Your Partner Look Good

by Lindsay Price

Students are introduced to Guideline 4 “Make Your Partner Look Good” and apply their knowledge through warm-up and improv exercises.

# Improvisation

Lesson 5 of 6 in Improvisation Unit

Guideline 5: Relax, Have Fun, and Don't Force the Humor

by Lindsay Price

Students are introduced to Guideline 5 “Relax, Have fun, and Don’t Force the Humor” and apply their knowledge through warm-up and improv exercises.

# Improvisation

Lesson 4 of 12 in Unit Three: Building Improvised Scenes Unit

High-Stakes Objectives

by Lindsay Johnson

In this lesson, we’ll look at multiple perspectives that can lead to a conflict. Students will take an objectives quiz to demonstrate their understanding of objectives, conflict, and stakes. This could be graded as a daily work grade or an assessment, and will give you a snapshot of students’ current understanding.

Slide Deck

# Improvisation # middle school friendly

Lesson 4 of 7 in Improvisation in Musical Theatre Unit

Improv for Character Study

by Annie Dragoo

Students will demonstrate ability to develop a character by participating in various improvisation exercises.

# Improvisation # Acting # improv # musical theatre

Lesson 8 of 9 in Unit Two: Improvisation Basics Unit

Improv Test

by Lindsay Johnson

In this final lesson for this unit, students will participate in the improv game Hitchhiker as part of a peer and teacher assessment on the Improvisation Rubric.