I wondered if it might be possible to utilize the Kid Snippet videos in class, and finally I gave it a try. We have done three in as many weeks, and the results have been revealing. First, I set the scene, which might be a teacher telling a student how to subtract, or a bank teller telling a customer about a recent robbery, but nothing to leading. Students then break into pairs, and I give them a minute or two to plan their scene (It may not be true improvisation, but with only a minute or two, it still puts them on the spot.).
Here's a quick video of a rehearsal:
This year has been a trial run for the improvisational exercises, but I hope to incorporate them more in the future, not only to give students the chance to ham it up on stage, but to open a much-needed door to writing. Once the scenes have played out, students return to their workstations to write their scenes in the form of a play. Following a quick discussion, I hope to help students effectively include more dialog in their writings.