🎭 Five Easy Improv Games for Teens

Perfect for Improv Club, Drama Class, or Rehearsal Warm-Ups

When I was in high school and college, improv was everything to me. I loved the fast-paced fun, the creativity, and the total freedom to play. I even joined a competitive improv team in college—and it was the highlight of my experience! Later, as a drama teacher and director, I realized how useful improv can be, not just for performance but for ensemble bonding, character exploration, and energizing your rehearsal room.

Here are five of my favorite simple, go-to improv games, especially for middle and high schoolers.

1. Park Bench

Focus: Objectives and Tactics
How to Play:

1. One student sits on a bench (real or imaginary) with the objective of enjoying a peaceful moment.

2. Another student approaches, with the objective of getting that person to leave the bench.

3. Without touching and while keeping things school-appropriate, they try any tactic they can.

4. If the seated student leaves, the challenger takes the bench, and the next person steps up.

Sample tactics: Pretending to be sick, acting like the bench is cursed, saying it’s covered in wet paint—creativity wins!

2. Yes, Let’s!

Focus: Ensemble Energy and Agreement
How to Play:

1. Stand in a circle. One student steps forward and says, “Let’s [do something fun]!”

2. Everyone jumps, claps, and shouts, “Yes, Lest!”

3. They act out that idea for 20–30 seconds. I let them leave the circle to physically at it out.

4. Teacher calls, “Back to the circle!”

5. The next person proposes a new action. Repeat!

Examples: “Let’s go to the zoo!” “Let’s swim with dolphins!” “Let’s be astronauts!”

3. Scene Builder

Focus: Environment Building and Collaboration
How to Play:

1. Get a scene suggestion like “a park” or “a medieval castle.”

2. One student steps in and declares: “I am the [thing/person]” and strikes a pose.

3. Others follow, adding one item at a time (e.g., “I’m the fountain,” “I’m the dogwalker,” “I’m the kite”). Each addition should add to the scene and build off the last idea.

4. Once the scene is built, interact or freeze to discuss the world they’ve created.

4. The Machine

Focus: Repetition, Rhythm, and Physical Storytelling
How to Play:

1. One student enters and begins a repeated motion and sound.

2. One at a time, other students join, adding connected motions and sounds.

3. The goal: a full “machine” with coordinated moving parts.

4. Optional: Reverse the machine and unplug piece by piece.

5. Where Is the Celery?

Focus: Focus, Memory, and Mental Flexibility
How to Play:

1. In a circle of 10 or fewer, each student points to someone else and says their name.

2. Continue that pattern until smooth.

3. Add a second layer (e.g., fruits), following the same pointing pattern.

4. Add a third layer (e.g., colors).

5. Try to do all three patterns at once—pure controlled chaos!

🎁 Ready to Level Up?

These five games are just the beginning. Want even more improv tools for your classroom?

👉 Download my free Drama Classroom Toolkit—perfect for teachers who want low-prep ideas.
👉 Check out my “50 Games for Improv” resource—great for middle and high school.
👉 Want to keep the fun going? I also offer improv card suggestions and a complete improv unit (available individually or as a money-saving bundle!).
👉 Plus, explore my free improv suggestion generator —click and get instant ideas for scenes, characters, and twists!

Thanks for stopping by. Happy teaching—and break a leg! 🎭