Improv Comedy and Writing Residency (2nd-7th Grade)
This is not a writing method...it's a writing EXPERIENCE!
Students often struggle with the writing process because they don’t see a connection between the spoken and written word.
In this residency, students discover their writing voice on the page as they unleash their performance voice on the stage. They learn that writing can be as easy as speaking their minds.
Published author and improv comedian, Chris EspinosaXYZ, shows young writers how improv comedy can inspire them to put pencil to paper. When students can think on their feet, they can write more in their seats!
But your students won't spend much time in their seats because they will be improvising and collaborating. They will "take the stage" to perform their personal narratives or expository essays as a monologue or group skit.
- Day 1: Expository Essay vs. Personal Narrative (Understanding the Difference)
- Day 2: The Middle (The Why of Expository/The What Happened in Narrative)
- Day 3: Introductions that Ignite Interest
- Day 4: Satisfying Conclusions
- Day 5: Students share their writing as a performance
The students will know:
- The structure of an expository essay (introduction, body, and conclusion) or a personal narrative (beginning, middle, and end).
- Three steps of the writing process: (1) plan/draft, (2) develop, and (3) revise/edit.
The students will be able to:
- Develop ideas through collaboration and critical thinking.
- Write a rough draft for an expository essay or personal narrative.
- Express themselves as they perform their written work as a theatrical skit or monologue.
The students will appreciate:
- The importance of strong communication skills.
- How improvisational theater skills can help them become develop stronger writing skills.
- The powerful connection between the spoken and written word.
