Unit(s): Introduction to the Theatre/Improvisation
Purpose:
To encourage the student to think creatively
Objective:
Students will use objects for purposes other than their original purpose.
Materials:
A box containing enough simple objects for every person in the group (i.e. shoe, candle, coat hanger, book)
Procedure:
- Place all the objects in a box or a spot hidden from the group.
- One at a time, the students go to the objects, choose one and create a very brief scene in which they use the object for some purpose other than the purpose for which it was originally intended.
- I usually demonstrate by taking a small jewelry box, rubbing it like a lamp, and making a genie appear.
Variation:
- Take four volunteers from the group who will act as two teams.
- Give each team a basic object of some sort.
- The teams take turns using the object for some original purpose until one team runs out of ideas and loses.
- Three-foot long pieces of 2 x 4, two pieces for each team, work very well. They can be used for everything from a pair of water skis to very large toothbrushes.