Improv Games and Acting Skills, From "Gibberish Blob" to "Game Show Host"

A typical day in class:
Each class session begins with a short introductory "check-in" (or storytelling) structure related to the theme of the day's class.  This is a fun way to break the ice and start to feel comfortable together as we warm up our imaginations, voices and bodies.  
Next we identify two or three specific skills to focus on for the day. We practice these skills as we play short Improv games and move through a series of acting exercises and challenges.  (Focus skills for each week are listed in the weekly breakdown below, along with examples of games and activities designed to address those skills.) 
The second half of class is dedicated to a longer Improv structure which gives us all room to explore and express our individual creativity and wonderful quirkiness.  Something to keep in mind is that when we are creating, we can never be wrong, and every story we create will be unique and surprising!  During the last few minutes we debrief and share something we remember from or learned during the class that day.

Weekly Themes with Examples of Activities and Games
( Note: The instructor may occasionally substitute alternative games in order to meet the needs of each unique group of students.)

Week One:  Working collaboratively. Listening closely and communicating clearly. "Yes, and..." (staying open to other people's ideas and spontaneously adding our own).  
Activities: Group storytelling (7-sentence stories, 3-headed monster, one-word story). "I am a tree."  Creating commercials for imaginary products.  Gibberish Blob.

Week Two: "What" and "Where."  Using our bodies and movements to create a sense of place.Using imaginary objects/mime.
Activities: Add-on Environments. "What am I doing?" Buy/Sell. Gibberish Commercials. Sportscaster.

Week Three: "Who" and "Why."  Transforming our bodies and voices to become a character.  Objectives and Tactics.
Activities: "I'm not who you think I am." Animal transformations. Short improvised scenes focused on pursuing an objective.  Character hot-seat and/or job interview.

Week Four:  Expressing emotions. Exploring relationship and point of view.
Activities: "Beating eggs" (a short script that changes depending on the characters' emotions).  Short improvised scenes focused on relationship and status.  Bus stop. Game show host.