1

Lesson Plan 3
Grade/Subject: 8 / Improvisation
Teacher: Miss McGovern
Date: March 8th, 2019

OUTCOMES
Lesson Objective

Get the students to successfully build on an improvised scene in groups.

GLOs and SLOs:

GLO 1, 2, 3

SLOs:
Improvisation
3, 4, 5, 6, 13, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22

ASSESSMENT
Formative:
-Observations for blocking, whimping, accepting, & building
-MAS, ADV, PRG, EMG, BEG, LIM

MATERIALS

Teacher Resource Manual DRAMA Junior High School. 1989 Alberta Education ISBN 0-773-0078-9

PROCEDURE (45. min)

Introduction (5 min.)

As students begin entering the classroom, get them to set their stuff off to one side of the room, and come sit in a circle
in the middle of the room.

Call their attention when it seems like everyone has arrived. Take attendance quickly, then do check-in.

Good morning everyone. For check-in today, I’d like for you to tell me something that you are looking
forward to doing this weekend. _____ let’s start with you.

Awesome. Now can anyone think of what we did last time? (we told improvised stories together, we
explored sounds that could be in a story (animal and setting))

Today we are going to build on improvised scenes. Everybody stand up.

Body (35 min.)

Walking/Freeze Play (10 min.)

-Everybody walk around the room, try not to run into anyone, no talking to anyone right now, just walking as you
normally would
-FREEZE, wait a couple seconds, and relax back to walking position
-This time when I say “freeze,” I’d like you to be touching someone in that frozen position. It could be hand to arm,
hand-in-hand, hand-to foot, foot to foot, hip to hip, anything. Just as long as you are frozen and touching someone
else.
-Wait a couple seconds, then FREEZE
-Stay frozen. Now when I say “go,” I’d like you to bring this picture to life. Whoever you are touching, you are now in
a scene with them. Use your imagination. Go!
1
2

-Wait about 15 seconds for them to develop a setting/scene, then Okay! Relax back to walking positions please!
-Again, we will freeze in a way where we are touching someone else. It doesn’t matter how big the group, but you must
be touching someone. Wait for a couple seconds, then FREEZE
-Stay frozen. Now when I say “go,” I’d like you to bring this picture to life in SLOW MOTION, WITHOUT SOUND
(no talking). Go!
-Let them explore for about 15 seconds, then have everyone RELAX and come back into a standing circle please.

Blocking, Wimping, Accepting, Building/Advancing (25 min.)

-Select one of the two people standing beside me in the circle, and ask them if I can use them in an example (they
should say yes)
-Now we are going to do a review on some of the important terms involved in improv. I’m sure that Ms. Knight
introduced you to blocking. Can someone tell me what blocking is? (saying no to someone’s idea, shutting down an
offer, etc.)
-I have asked _____ to do an example with me here. Now ______, I’d simply like you to say no to everything that I ask
you. You can ask me questions as well, and I will say no to them. Ready? Go.
-Now I’d like you to turn to your partner, ask them questions, and say no. Go.
-Give them 30 seconds to ask/answer some questions. Then reel them back in again with: Alright folks can I have your
attention again please in 5, 4, 3, 2… thank you
-Now what did blocking do to your scenes? Why might blocking be bad for a scene? How did you feel having all of
your ideas shut down?
-Next term! Wimping! Can anyone tell me what “wimping” is? (partly saying yes but not doing anything about it, can
be a sound where you don’t say any actual words, dull responses that don’t add anything) *Do a couple examples 
have a couple of them ask me questions and I’ll respond in wimping ways
-Turn to your partner and try it out. Go! Wait 30 seconds for them to ask/answer some questions
-And attention in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1… thank you
-Now what did wimping to do the scene? Why might wimping be good / bad for a scene? How did it make you feel?
-Next term! Accepting! Can anyone tell me what “accepting” is? (saying yes to other people’s ideas / offers)
-Get the initial student I selected for the example scene to do another one with me. We will alternate asking each other
questions, and I want all of your responses to each other to be “Yes, let’s!” *Do an example scene and then have them
try it with their partners
-Let them try it for 30 seconds, then get their attention back again
-Now what was great about accepting offers and ideas in a scene?! How did it make you feel this time?
-Last term! Advancing! Can anyone tell me what “advancing” is? (building onto an idea, exploring an idea further,
saying yes and adding more to the same topic) It’s like having a regular conversation with someone where you ask
more about them, what their interests are, etcetera.

-With your partner, label yourselves A and B. Give them a few seconds to do that. Now A’s are going to start a scene
in a restaurant, without talking, just miming. A’s will set the scene for the first 20 seconds or so, then B’s will come in
and they can speak if they want to. A’s, you can speak as well once B’s enter the scene. Remember all of the terms we
just talked about, try not to block at all! Accept and go with the flow!
-A’s get ready…GO!

Conclusion (2 min.)

AND SCENE! If you can hear me clap once, if you can hear me clap twice, if you can hear me raise your hand. Keep
all hands up until everyone does it.

Great, hands down, and have a seat where you are.

Why is it important to advance in a scene? What changed from when you accepted to when you advanced?

Thank you everyone, for your effort today. You are free to go, and have a great next class.

Reflection

2
3