IMPROVING THROUGH
IMPROV-ING
Jeanne Gilbert, IU Share Fair, Spring 2015
STARRING YOUR STUDENTS
For beginners - for review – for fun
As a whole class, in pairs, or in groups
The only prop needed is imagination
AND…ACTION!
eat
read
box
climb
ski
surf
bowl
play hockey
play volleyball
lift weights
ride a horse
do martial arts
ride a bike
go waterskiing
scuba dive
sew
play video games
go camping
W H AT T O D O ? W H AT T O D O ?
Practice or review the present progressive!
 In English: “to be” + verb + ing
ex. I am playing
 This improv activity helps students form the
progressive more quickly
SET THE SCENE…
The class lines up…
WORDS VS. ACTIONS
1. Student A pretends to be eating.
2. Student B asks, “What are you doing?”
3. Student A replies, “I am reading.”
4. Student B pretends to be reading.
5. A goes to the back of the line, and C comes up.
THE GAME CONTINUES.
6. C asks B, “What are you doing?”
7. B replies, “I am climbing a mountain” while still
pretending to read.
8. C begins pretending to climb a mountain.
9. B goes to the back of the line, and D comes up…
BUT HOW DOES IT END?
Go through the whole class once or twice.
Or set a timer.
And now your class has improved through…
IMPROV-ing!