A creative drama resource for teachers and others working with youth!
Improvisation
What is Improvisation?In a nut shell, improvisation is "making it up as you go along." We improvise daily in conversation, cooking, driving, and more. In creative drama and theatre, improvisation can include making up a scene, a conversation, a movement piece, or even a drawing. The possibilities are endless. Improvisation not only develops and polishes acting and social skills, but it provides an opportunity to practice real life in a safe environment. |
Why should my students use Improvisation?Improvisation builds confidence in decision making, ensemble, and self esteem. Improvisation encourages creative thinking and can help in becoming better at interviews, meetings, and surviving in the professional world. |
Where does Improvisation fit into my curriculum?Anywhere! Everywhere! Many areas are accessible through improvisation because you are making the content up as you go along. You may choose to improvise a scene about a math concept, a silly way that scientists came up with a chemical symbol, or act out a historical event based on a loose plot.
|
How do I start?Begin by introducing your students to creating text little by little. Once they are comfortable playing in small groups or in short bursts, take on bigger tasks such as improvising a scene in from of the class. Not every student will reach this comfort level... but that's OK! Also remember to clearly outline your expectations so they are met by the improvisation. Start with using the body, voice, and imagination. When you reach the actual improvisation level, you may want to review play-creation process, or plot structure (who, what, when, where, how, beginning, middle, ending, conflict, agreeing with your partners, environmental details, etc.). You may also include a rehearsal! Here are some obstacles that you may want to address in using improvisational
activities with your students: |
What does Improvisation look like in a lesson plan?Using Improvisation in a lesson may look something like this: Review steps involved in building a character. Write these on the
board as students answer them on their worksheets. Divide students into small groups of no more than four people. Have students develop an improvisation ( a short scene made up
on the spot) in their small groups based on a location you give
them. Prepare and rehearse a few times (for about 10 minutes) Share group improvs with the class. |
What educational standards are met by Improvisation?National Theatre Standard and Benchmarks
Standard 2: Uses acting skills Level 2 (Grade K-4) 1. Knows characters in dramatizations, their relationships, and their environments 2. Uses variations of locomotor and non locomotor movement and vocal pitch, tempo, and tone for different characters 3. Assumes roles that exhibit concentration and contribute to the action of dramatizations based on personal experience and heritage, imagination, literature, and history 4. Knows how to interact in improvisations Level 3 (Grade 5-8) 1. Understands how descriptions, dialogue, and actions are used to discover, articulate, and justify character motivation 2. Uses basic acting skills (e.g., sensory recall, concentration, breath control, diction, body alignment, control of isolated body parts) to develop characterizations that suggest artistic choices 3. Invents character behaviors based on the observation of interactions, ethical choices, and emotional responses of people 4. Interacts as an invented character in improvised and scripted scenes Level 4 (Grade 9-12) 1. Understands the physical, emotional, and social dimensions of characters found in dramatic texts from various genres and media 2. Knows various classical and contemporary acting techniques and methods 3. Develops, communicates, and sustains characters that communicate with audiences in improvisations and informal or formal productions from <http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/Benchmark.asp?SubjectID=12&StandardID=2> |
This page is an extension of www.cre8tivedrama.com.
It was created by Gordon
Hensley and is intended for educational use only. Content and images
from this site are under copyright and may not be used without expressed
permission. All rights reserved. ©