Improvising
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can work in a team to improvise a scene and perform it.
Key learning points
- To improvise means to make something up on the spot and in the moment.
- Actors often work together to improvise scenes.
- A team of actors is called a cast.
- Improvising involves being creative, being quick-thinking and working as a team.
Keywords
Improvise - to make something up on the spot and in the moment
Scene - a chunk or section of drama
Cast - a team of actors
Common misconception
Pupils may think that improvising a scene means taking a long time rehearsing it before a performance - like a normal play.
A cast of actors do not usually rehearse an improvised scene. They might spend only 30-60 seconds organising themselves on the stage and telling each other a very brief idea about how they are going to act.
Teacher tip
In Task B, pupils can decide in their groups if they do or don't want to have a director. The director role is non-participatory during the improvised scene. This would suit an exceptionally reluctant child, but joining in to having a go at improvising for all pupils should be encouraged.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these would be a suitable stage direction?
Q2.Which of these is a suitable scene heading?
Q3.Which of these is a setting description from a play script?
Q4.Match the play script convention to its use.
the name of a play
the name of a scene and a very brief overview of what happens in it
a chunk or section of a play
a brief description of how a scene should look for the audience
an instruction to an actor for how to say a line of dialogue
Q5.Fill in the gap: 'A director, a group of __________ and a stage __________ prepare a play ready for a performance.'
Q6.Which is the correct spelling?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What does improvise mean?
Q2.What is a group of actors called?
Q3.Which of these is improvising good practice for?
Q4.Around how long would a cast have to organise themselves on a stage before an improvised scene begins?
Q5.Match the definitions.
section or chunk of action
group of people who watch a performance
to make something up on the spot and in the moment
a group of actors
Q6.What must an audience do when watching a performance?
To help you plan your 3 English lesson on: Improvising, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 3 English lesson on: Improvising, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 English lessons from the Reading and performing scripts unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.