A collage of a diverse group of students doing theater games and improvisation activities, with the text "Improv in the Classroom" and sketched doodles on it.

Collage by Hannah Bogenreuther for Edutopia

Arts Integration

Improv in the Classroom

A collection of our popular articles and videos about how theater games and improvisation can spark creativity, build relationships, and boost academics and executive function skills alike.

February 21, 2025

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Arts Integration
How—and Why—to Use Improv in the Classroom
By regularly including theater games in the classroom, teachers give students an opportunity to build community, practice social skills, and gain a deeper understanding of academic content.

Literacy
Exploring Narrative Elements Through a Drama Game
Using an improv exercise to practice the parts of a story gets ideas flowing for students—and helps them add structure to their writing.
Arts Integration
Using Theater Games to Support Students’ Math Skills
Elementary teachers can use these theater games to get kids moving in math class as an engaging way to build their skills.
Jocelyn Greene
Collaborative Learning
Activating Learning by Milling to Music
When students pretend they’re at a fancy party making small talk, a simple brainstorm for writing ideas becomes more lively, more cooperative—and more effective.
Brain-Based Learning
60-Second Strategy: 3 Noses
An active math warm-up that is inclusive and fun puts students in a positive frame of mind—and gets them ready to learn.
Early Childhood Education
Movement-Based Games That Help Students With Spelling
Games that combine spelling with physical activity can make it easier for young students to learn new words.
Jocelyn Greene
Arts Integration
Playing an Improv Game for Character Analysis
By acting out a character’s emotions, students can practice literary analysis, sharpen their recall of story detail, and build empathy.

Social & Emotional Learning (SEL)
60-Second Strategy: The ‘What Are You Doing?’ Game
When middle school students play an improvisation game that encourages a bit of silliness, they get more comfortable with each other and themselves.
Early Childhood Education
Building Young Students’ Working Memory Through Theater Games
By remembering the information necessary to play certain games, students develop skills that lead to academic success.
Jocelyn Greene
Arts Integration
Let the Drama Games Begin
These theater activities help early learners build literacy, speech, motor, and social and emotional skills while they’re having fun.
Heather Sanderell
Arts Integration
Using Theatrical Activities to Teach Problem-Solving
Students can participate in collaborative and engaging activities that promote critical-thinking skill development.
Mary Ann Loesch
Early Childhood Education
4 Theater Games That Create Calm
The same exercises that help actors stay in the moment can help young students improve their executive function skills.
Jocelyn Greene
Collaborative Learning
Cultivating Trust by Playing Alphabet Improv
A quick activity that makes space for middle school students to let down their guard and be vulnerable with each other primes them for learning.

Student Engagement
Using Theater Games and Activities as Brain Breaks
Students fidgeting and losing focus? These fun activities can help reenergize pre-K and elementary learners.
Heather Sanderell
Early Childhood Education
8 Brain Breaks to Spark Joy and Help Young Students Concentrate
Theater games make fun brain breaks that also foster valuable executive function skills.
Jocelyn Greene
Social & Emotional Learning (SEL)
Setting the Tone With a Get-to-Know-You Game
Morning meeting becomes a place for kindness and gratitude with a simple but powerful community-building game.
Early Childhood Education
4 Theater Games That Make Great Morning Meeting Activities
These games can spark creativity, boost engagement, and teach important executive function skills such as turn-taking.
Jocelyn Greene
Social & Emotional Learning (SEL)
Building Emotional Literacy With a Brain Break
When students play a theater game where they name and act out emotions, they become more skilled at articulating their feelings.