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Article
University of Wisconsin

Welcome to the World of Jazz Improvisation

For Students 9th - 10th
This site was developed by a college jazz educator based on one of her improvisation classes. Material suitable educators or the student who is serious about learning jazz improvisation.
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Instructional Video
Imagine Learning Classroom

Learn Zillion: Multiply and Divide to Find Volume Using Improvised Units

For Students 5th Standards
In this lesson, you will use improvised units to compute the volume of a solid by using multiplication and division. Login gives access to two additional videos. [4:57]
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Website
Other

Jazz Improvisation Primer/ Free Improvisation

For Students 9th - 10th
A look at what makes free jazz musically unique. Contains specific examples of free rhythm and tonality.
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PPT
TES Global

Tes: Commedia Dell'arte Character Introduction

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] This slide show introduces the major stock characters in Commedia Dell'Arte, a form of theatre characterized by masked "types," improvised dialogue, and a cast of colorful stock characters which began...
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Website
Other

Visual Jazz Publications

For Students 9th - 10th
This company produces educational materials to help you succeed in jazz improvisation and sight reading. Of note on their site is "The Art of Improvisation," a free download that guides you through the improvisational process.
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Website
Other

Learn Improv

For Students 9th - 10th
This site is a place to learn about the art of improvisational comedy. "One cannot really learn improvisational comedy from a web page, however the list of exercises included here will definitely help."
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Get Yourself in Order!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
A lesson that requires students to act out a sequence of events in the form of improvisation. Students learn to improvise and identify the sequence of events in a dramatization.
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Website
Other

The Spolin Center: Viola Spolin

For Students 9th - 10th
The Spolin Center website offers information and workshops based on Viola Spolin groundbreaking improvisational methods. Also includes nontheatrical applications for businesses, etc. Links to Improvisation Webring included.
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Unknown Type
Illustrative Mathematics

Illustrative Mathematics: 3.md the Square Counting Shortcut

For Teachers 2nd - 4th Standards
This is a rectangle subdivision task; ideally instead of counting each square. students should break the letters into rectangles, multiply to find the areas, and add up the areas. Aligns with 3.MD.C: CCSS.Math.Content.3.MD.C.6 Measure...
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Keep Talking!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
A lesson that helps students develop their improvisational skills. Students select a random topic and speak about it for one minute.
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Instructional Video
Other

Reuters: The Ied War in Afghanistan

For Students 9th - 10th
This video briefly discusses the Improvised Explosive Device, which is the weapon of choice by Afgan insurgents. About 6 IED's are discovered each day and combating the IED's is a major offensive by the Afghan and NATO Forces. Duration 1...
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Activity
TES Global

Tes: Drama Cards Genres

For Students K - 1st Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] Scenes from stories can be enhanced with this set of drama cards. Students can use a genre card to improvise a scene or use a card with one drama and then shift to another genre with the choosing of...
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Website
Other

Canadian Improv Games

For Teachers 9th - 10th
If you have or want to start an improvisation group at your school this would be an amazing opportunity for you to check out. Open only to schools in Canada, the Canadian Improv Games is a friendly competition where high school students...
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Instructional Video
ArtsNow

Arts Now Learning: Dinner Dilemmas

For Teachers 5th - 7th
A teacher models how to conduct an improv lesson, beginning with the rules to follow. She presents the problem and conflict situation which students must resolve through their improvisation. [4:33]
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Who Do You Think You Are?

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Young scholars will demonstrate an understanding of character through improvisation. Students will imagine and clearly describe their characters through performance. They will relate a character's actions and emotions and create a setting.
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Get Jiggy With It!

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Students will exhibit their understanding of character through improvisation. Students will listen to a story and act out the actions. They will demonstrate the verbs and adjectives that describe their characters' movements.
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Changing Your Tactics

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Lesson plan where students use improvisational techniques to frighten or encourage their partner.
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Lesson Plan
ArtsNow

Arts Now Learning: Civil War Personalities [Pdf]

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
This instructional activity invites students to derive inspiration from photographs (portraits and people) from the Civil War era. These images serve as impetus to write monologues and create improvisational skits.
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Article
Other

I Was Doing All Right

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about a trumpet player's insights and experiences with jazz improvisation. This is a large blog site with a lot of great information and ideas concerning improvisation.
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Article
Love To Know Media

Your Dictionary: Writing the One Minute Persuasive Speech

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
This article focuses on writing a one-minute persuasive speech force students to be clear and concise and to hone debate skills. From there it suggests the use of improvisation speeches.
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Following Stage Directions

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this lesson students will learn basic stage directions and stage positions. Using that knowledge they will create improvisational scenes and present them to the class.
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Lesson Plan
Can Teach

Can Teach : Drama Ideas

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this lesson plan use dramatic games and improvisations to liven up the classroom and help students communicate better. These lesson plans can be adapted to a number of curricular subjects. Suited for elementary students.
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eBook
Stanford University

Comparison of Free Jazz to 20th Century Classical Music

For Students 9th - 10th
A very indepth examination of free jazz. Site contains music theory and specific illustrated examples.
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Handout
Other

Down Beat: John Coltrane

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical information, photos, and a discography of jazz great John Coltrane, whose work in the 1960s included excursions into free jazz.

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