國中學生即興表演

In this on-going class, students will be introduced to various improv games.  Improv is an excellent skill that helps people conquer fears and learn how to work collaboratively in a comfortable setting.  Improvisation is a great way to help students work on communication and social skills. These are highly interactive classes where students are expected to talk with one another and practice fun and growth-building improv activities.  There will also be some writing and drawing activities that students will complete to process the games as we go on.

The following games will be played:
Game #1: Questions Only - students will be paired up.  They will be given a setting and will have to act out a scene using questions only.

Game #2: Bob is late again - This is a game for a group of 4: 3 students "sit" in a typical place, like a restaurant, waiting room, train station, movie theater, etc.  Each student takes turns complaining about their friend Bob. Each time they complain, they mention something unique about Bob. After a few rounds, the student playing Bob "comes in" and has to act out each of those unique characteristics.  With this game, we also include a character sketch where students draw a picture of Bob and label all the characteristics he was assigned.

Game #3: Hollywood Director - This will be for a group of 5 students.  4 students are given a scent to act out.  A fifth student will be the director and will start out giving the group of 4 a mood that they want the scene to be acted in.  At various times, he/she changes their mind, calls cut, and gives them a new mood to act the scene out in.  

Game #4: Yes and... - This is a great games that focuses in accepting other people's answers and cooperation skills.  1 student will start out with a statement and each student after will begin their statements with "Yes, and..." and will add more detail to the scene, exaggerating each new statement. Students will have a series of reflection questions as to why it is important to learn how to work with others.

Game #5: Alien, Cow, and Tiger - In this game for 3 students, each student will get assigned either an alien, cow, or tiger.  They will have instructions on how to act as this character.  The goal is for all of them to start acting like one of the animals.

Game #6: Dr. Know-It-All - 3 students will pretend that they are Dr. Know-It-All.  Students will ask questions to Dr. Know-It-All and they will have to answer the questions, but each student can only say 1 word.  They answer with one sentence only.  

The class is structured so that students feel comfortable.  The first meeting is really all about getting to know each other and getting comfortable in class.  We play a lot of ice breakers and ask getting to know you questions.  For each game we play, I will explain what each one is like, give examples, and give students plenty of time to practice.  At the end, there is usually some wrap up questions or activity to help process the game and how that particular activity can help.