- Definition
Prepared improvisation" is when kids act out an important part of a story they're working on, but they plan it out a bit beforehand with their classmates, rather than just making it up on the spot. They decide on the key moment and what kind of talking might happen, keeping it short and focused.
Students might plan to act out the scene where a character discovers a hidden map, deciding who is in the scene and what the goal is before they start.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Prepared improvisation is like planning a surprise for a friend — you know the key moment you're building towards, but the exact words and reactions happen on the spot.
Ask your child: To act out the moment a hero gets their powers, what would you plan ahead?
Common mix-up: Kids may think 'improvisation' means making it all up on the spot. Prepared improvisation actually involves planning the scene's key moment first, so the acting has a clear goal.
Examples
- Acting out the moment two historical figures meet for the first time, after planning what each character wants from the conversation.
- Creating a short scene about a conflict at recess, after agreeing on what the argument is about and how it might end.
prepared improvisation is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
