This week is all about getting kids engaged in learning something new and keeping them focused. Most kids are more concerned Christmas shopping, family get togethers, meeting up with friends, opening presents than they are about learning.
I decided that I wouldn't start the next science workshop. I did some searching and thought a little reader's theater would be just the thing to get the kids excited about a new project. Instead of just reading through it, and having the kids take turns reading different parts in an attempt to increase fluency, and strength voice. I held auditions for the major parts, assigned minor ones. Anyone who didn't want to perform became a prop master.
In both of my classes, we created a cast of actors. We discussed emotions of the characters. Santa is sick and can't possibly deliver toys this year. Mrs. Claus is taking care of him and insists she can may the deliveries. Santa doesn't believe Mrs. Clause, a woman, can do it. There is a flurry of rhyming elves running around and a voice over Narrator who describes the actions of the characters. Once we got tricky words understood, and dug into the emotions and how those emotions should look on their faces...we started to block.
Today, I read the script line by line and the kids just acted with their bodies and faces. We'd stop periodically to make sure they were still facing the audience or that they were using a prop right. We'd check in the crew for the placements. Then they ran a "dress rehearsal" with the blocking.
The prop masters sat together and read the play, line by line, and made a list of what they would need. Then they divied up the props. What they have come up with entirely on their own has been amazing! I can't beleive how detailed their backdrops are, their hand held props, and their costumes! I will post the videos to school tube and link to them once we are done.
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