Drama

January

  • All K-5 Classes: Learned about the types of puppets in the drama classroom (Finger, Hand, Hand & Rod, Glove, Marionette) and practiced the basics of puppetry with our puppetry stages! We TRIED new voices, new stories, and new puppets!

  • 1st Grade: We learned how to change a plot of a story by asking "WHAT IF" after we read "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!" by Mo Willems.

  • 2nd Grade: Changing the moral of the story to create new plots!

  • 3rd Grade: Exploring Character Relationship Tableaux through "Mr. Peabody's Apples" By Madonna (Yes, Madonna!)

  • 4th & 5th Grade: Refocused our ensemble with Mirroring activities! "Who started the motion" Get's really intense and competitive!

(( CLICK THROUGH PHOTOS BELOW! ))

December

December brought our Traditional STORYTELLING FESTIVAL! So we focused on storytelling in the drama room. Every grade learned about the types of stories that can be told:

  • Personal / Narrative

  • Borrowed true stories from friends or family

  • Classic stories from literature / culture

  • Made up stories- originals written or improvised.

Students played storytelling games, made "Storytellers" (folded fortune tellers) and story cubes to encourage storytelling & listening.

Unfortunately Ms. Rigsby missed two weeks of school this month for an emergency gallbladder surgery- but the students were in good hands, and Ms. Rigsby is all healed up and ready to get back to the fun in JANUARY!

November


  • Kinder & 1st Grade played "Not a Box", Problem solved as animals in "The Long Winter" and created dramatic "How to Catch a Turkey" Plans!

  • 2nd Grade had their first go at "The Thing in the Middle of the Room".

  • 3rd Graders acted out even more complicated versions of "Alexander's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day!" & Twisted versions of "Puss in Boots".

  • 4th Graders acted out their first script "The Elephant Pit" and really impressed me with their use of furniture to create their set/ performance space.

  • 5th Graders did ONE MINUTE Playwriting- and collaborated with a partner to produce a costumed skit to perform!

October

Kinder ended dramatic play centers and learned about audience behavior while making "Interrupting Chicken" puppets and making body bubbles. 2nd Grade started their arts workshop (details below), and 1st & 3rd-5th dug deep into learning about the PLOT of stories: Types of Conflict, Complications, The 5 Ws, Morals, Sequence of Events, and more! Students interviewed fairy tale characters from "Snow White & Rose Red", created spooky endings to story starters, and used props and costumes to act out original plots. But, as is usual, if you asked the students what they did- they would say "FREE DRAMA!" which they earned for attentiveness in class. For every 5-7 drama lessons with stellar behavior- students have a free choice class where we vote on team building ensemble games, or free access to props, costumes, and puppets! These kids are as attentive as they are dramatic- so it was a great month!

(( CLICK THROUGH TO SEE MORE PICTURES! ))


2nd Grade "Monarch Butterfly Specialist Workshop"

  • In September & October: After a great virtual kickoff lesson learning about the Monarch Butterfly life cycle and migration- each specialist launched into an ARTS workshop showcasing what we learned. In Drama we created ORIGINAL shadow puppet stories where each class wrote their own story, created their own puppets, performed, recorded video & voice overs, and designed light changes. I'm so proud of the work they did on this project!

August & September

Welcoming students back into the drama classroom after being virtual for a year and 3 months was really exciting! Students learned about the schoolwide covid protocals in place to keep us safe:

  • Open windows for fresh air

  • Air purifier on at all times

  • Students seated/lined up on velcro spots or "Booty Spots!" that are 3 feet away

  • Masks worn at all times

We were all really excited to learn about drama class expectations, explore the classroom and get to work! Classes worked on the concept of being an ENSEMBLE- or "group of actors who work together". Just like teams are in PE, bands and choruses are in Music, Art collectives are in Art- in DRAMA- we are an "ENSEMBLE!" (or ON-SOM-BULL in a french accent, if you are feeling fancy!) We built trust in our ensemble by playing a ton of dramatic team building games and exploring costumes and props in the classroom.

K/1st Dramatic Play Centers

  • Our Kinder and 1st Grade Students started off the year exploring dramatic play centers! This play gets students adjusted to the materials, and the structures of the classroom. These bins then rotate through the kindergarten classrooms to enrich their classroom's dramatic play center. Curated bins with costumes and props to support play around a theme:

    • Vet/Doctor

    • Pizza Restaurant

    • Birthday Party

    • Sandwich Restaurant

    • Airport

    • Diner & Ice Cream Shop

(( CLICK Through to see more pictures ))

3rd-5th Grade "The Thing in the Middle of the Room"

  • A yearly favorite competition is when we have student teams chose a silly item to pantomime breaking through a wall. It's our first mini performance for each other- and an absolute blast! Ms. Rigsby choses the most original & clearly acted ideas as 1st-3rd Place Schoolwide Winners! This year it was:

    • 1st Place: 3rd Graders in Ms. McCarthy's Class- Knowledge, Bethany, Emily performing Gorillas throwing bananas at the zoo.

    • 2nd Place: 5th Graders in Ms. Hillier's Class- Rustin, Everett, and Zach using the reaction between Mentos Candy in a Coca-Cola Bottle!

    • 3rd Place: 5th Graders in Ms. Martin's class- Jeremy, Levi, Reese, and Hartley who used tools to remove my door and install it in the wall!

Meet Mrs. Rigsby

I’m a Raleigh born girl who is lucky enough to have found my home in Asheville since 2005. I always knew I was meant to be a teacher but didn't know where I would fit in. I tried on a lot of different subjects before finding drama. In the theatre I get to put my silly, big, enthusiastic personality in a literal spotlight! With memories of family vacations in the Blue Ridge Mountains- I left for college at UNC-Asheville. I graduated with a degree in Theatre with a K-12 Teaching License. I crossed Merrimon Avenue and began teaching at Claxton a few months later.

As I start my 13th year at Claxton- my favorite part is still our HIVE community! I love being able to channel my enthusiasm into all of our traditions and events. My favorites are the school musical, 5th grade legacy video, school dances, storytelling festival, and our school wide Arts assemblies.

When I’m not in my colorful room wrapped in costumes and using puppets... I’m at home doing the same thing with my four year old daughter, “Maeve the Brave”. She is my mini me, and loves being outdoors, all things science, and coming to play in my classroom. My husband, Josh, is always busy with woodworking projects and cooks amazing meals. To sharpen my saw I love embroidery, reading, dance parties, and baking for my friends.