Some Theatresports games require participants to think quickly by associating one word or idea with another. The game "Alliterations" asks players to stand in a circle and pass a tennis ball. One player must name as many words as he can that begin with one letter of the alphabet in the time it takes the ball to go around the circle once. Another game, "Malapropism," asks players to walk around the classroom, point at an object and give it a new name. You can also play a simple word game where students take turns saying the first word that comes to mind. Each word must begin with the last letter of the previous word.
A very different improv skill is to have students play games that build characters. Play "Animalistics" with your students, where a few students act out a scene using characteristics of animals suggested by the audience. "Character Swap" has two actors improvise a scene until the audience gets to know the characters. The roles are then reversed, and the actors must play the character the other students has developed. Alternatively, you can have one student stand in the middle of a circle and improvise a monologue. Another student can step in, take his place and continue the monologue at any point.
Narration games help students develop the improvisational skill of storytelling. Play the "Guest Game," where one student is a guest somewhere, and four other students play people behaving suspiciously, as if they have a secret. Over the course of the scene, the four students slowly reveal their shocking secret. Play "Movie Review," in which one student interviews another about a made-up movie. As they discuss the film, four other students act out the scenes they describe. For a quick narration game, have one student come up with three random sentences. Another student must quickly tell a story incorporating these sentences.
One aspect of improvisation is learning to make up words that don't exist. Have two students act out a scene with gibberish dialogue. Pause the scene every few seconds and have two other students "translate" what was just said for the rest of the class. Another game involves pairing up students. Have one issue a command in gibberish. The second student must keep trying actions until he guesses the right one. Ideally, the first student will use tone of voice to indicate the proper command.