This unit was created for an Improvisation class; students grades 9-12. No previous experience necessary. All lessons are 55 minutes long. This unit takes place after the students have had units on the basics of storytelling, the basics of characterization, and open scenes. The students have skills in creating sound effects, showing characters, and creating scenes with basic scripted elements already there. Up until this point, they have only worked in a theatre-in-the-round setting with improv games.
Educational Objective:
Students will be able to demonstrate their abilities to create cohesive stories, characters, settings in a collaborative group by performing a long-form story of improvisation in groups.
Main National Standards Met:
Content Standard #1: Script writing through improvising, writing, and refining scripts based on personal experience and heritage, imagination, literature, and history
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
Content Standard #7: Analyzing, critiquing, and constructing meanings from informal and formal theatre, film, television, and electronic media productions
Big Ideas:
• Improvisation can be done both in short games and in long productions, but all of the elements remain the same in either form.
• Working in groups is an essential part of life, and if we are able to use every member of a group in a beneficial way, we will be capable of creating something much better than we can think of on our own.
Essential Questions:
• What are the major differences between long-form improvisation and short-form improvisation and why do they matter to you as a performer?
• How are we able to build upon our knowledge from the past in order to create something in the now?
Key Knowledge/skills:
• Creating something within set parameters
• Creating something with a group
• Being held accountable for participation in a group
Authentic Performance Tasks:
• Creating story plots in a group
• Rehearsing
• Evaluating individuals in a group as well as oneself
• Performing an improvised 7-8 minute scene in a group
Lessons:
Lesson 1 Title: Proscenium Staging Educational Objective: Students will show basic knowledge of stage directions by performing the game “Captain’s Coming”.
Lesson 2 Title: Concentration and Swiftness Educational Objective: Students will be able to show their abilities to keep in character and to react quickly by playing “Superheroes”.
Lesson 3 Title: Direction in Improv Educational Objective: Students will show their understanding of using direction in improvisation by playing “Hollywood Director”.
Lesson 4 Title: Fairytale Improv Educational Objective: Students will demonstrate their abilities to create a cohesive story and definite characters while thinking quickly on their feet through the creation of a short fairytale improvisation in groups.
Lesson 5 Title: Creating a Long-Form Production Educational Objective: Students will be able to demonstrate their abilities to create cohesive stories, characters, settings in a collaborative group by creating their own long-form specifics to the plot points of a story in a group.
Lesson 6 Title: Work Day Educational Objective: Students will be able to demonstrate their abilities to create cohesive stories, characters, settings in a collaborative group by rehearsing their created stories.
Lesson 7 Title: Long-Form Performance Day Educational Objective: Students will be able to demonstrate their abilities to create cohesive stories, characters, settings in a collaborative group by performing a long-form story of improvisation in groups.
