Embedded Files
Social Studies: Heroic Children
Social Studies: Heroic Children
What motivates a person to take heroic action?
What motivates a person to take heroic action?
This marked the ninth year of the Ensemble Project at Lincoln Annex School. Connecting the residency to the school's themes of self-advocacy and making an impact, this year's residency focused on six non-fiction stories of heroic children. Working with two, GSP Teaching Artists, students researched, developed, wrote, and performed six original musicals. The scripts, songs, blocking, and choreography were collaboratively invented in the classroom and then presented in a culminating event at Lincoln Annex for the students' peers, parents, and community.
This marked the ninth year of the Ensemble Project at Lincoln Annex School. Connecting the residency to the school's themes of self-advocacy and making an impact, this year's residency focused on six non-fiction stories of heroic children. Working with two, GSP Teaching Artists, students researched, developed, wrote, and performed six original musicals. The scripts, songs, blocking, and choreography were collaboratively invented in the classroom and then presented in a culminating event at Lincoln Annex for the students' peers, parents, and community.
December 2018 - June 2019
We told the story of...
We told the story of...
Claudette Colvin:
Claudette Colvin:
Civil Rights Leader
Civil Rights Leader
ALL: PEOPLE SHOULD BE EQUAL, SITTING AT THE SAME TABLE, DRINKING FROM THE SAME FOUNTAIN, LEARNING AT THE SAME SCHOOL. THAT’S HOW LIFE WILL BE. THAT’S HOW LIFE WILL BE.
Harriet/Sojourner: IF YOU GIVE UP YOUR SEAT, NOTHING WILL CHANGE - THE WORLD WILL STAY THE SAME.
YOU ARE STRONG … YOU MUST FIGHT.
IT’S YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT. IT’S YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.
Iqbal Masih:
Iqbal Masih:
Child Labor Activist
Child Labor Activist
ALL: (Machine sounds) THIRSTY, DEPRESSED, BETRAYED, STARVED, LONELY, AFRAID -- IN THE FACTORY -- SHH! SHH!
Iqbal: I WANT US TO BE FREE, THEN WE CAN FEEL THE SUN.
I WANT TO SEE THE WORLD, THEN WE CAN LOOK AT THE SEAS TO LIVE OUR OWN LIVES
SO WE CAN EXPLORE, TRAVEL AND LEARN, TRAVEL AND LEARN.
MY HEART IS GUIDING ME. ONE DAY WE WILL BE FREE.
Erica Fernandez:
Erica Fernandez:
Environmental Activist
Environmental Activist
Erica: If we didn’t move, this would have never happened. The air back in Mexico was clean. This air is disgusting.
ALL: I CANNOT BREATHE, I AM LOST INSIDE THE SMOG
I FEEL CAPTURED, ALONE - WILL I EVER GO BACK HOME?
Erica: A pipeline?! A PIPELINE?! For Natural Gas!? We can’t let this happen! We have to stop this right now!
ALL: THEY’RE HURTING THE EARTH, POLLUTING THE DIRT
Muzoon Almellehan:
Muzoon Almellehan:
Syrian Refugee
Syrian Refugee
ALL: SEVEN HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE KILOMETERS TO JORDAN. ARE WE CLOSE TO THE BORDER? WILL WE MAKE IT TO JORDAN?
I CAN’T HOLD MY BAG ANYMORE. I’VE BEEN WALKING FOR DAYS, IT’S HEAVY, I’M STRUGGLING.
Father: Munzoon, are you crazy? Why did you bring your books with you?
MUNZOON: THOSE BOOKS ARE MY POWER. THOSE BOOKS ARE MY FUTURE.
WITH KNOWLEDGE WE HAVE A PURPOSE IN LIFE.
Yusra Mardini:
Yusra Mardini:
Olympic Athlete
Olympic Athlete
ALL: WHEN I SWIM, THE HARDSHIP IS GONE - THERE IS NO UNHAPPINESS, JUST THE WATER AND ME.
Yusra: But in March, 2011, Syria became a war zone.
ALL: WHEN I WAS SWIMMING IN MY LANE, A BOMB CRASHED THROUGH THE ROOF OF THE POOL AND LANDED IN MY LANE.
Sarah: We have to leave this country!
Yusra: But this is our home.
Dad: There’s no other choice. We will be reunited soon.
Vitke Kempner:
Vitke Kempner:
WWII Polish-Jewish Partisan Leader
WWII Polish-Jewish Partisan Leader
Mom: YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A HERO. STAY HERE.
The Jewish People: I CAN’T STAY HERE, THE NAZIS HAVE COME. I CAN’T STAY HERE, I SHOULD TRY TO RUN. I CAN’T STAY HERE.
Vitka: I HAVE TO BECOME THE HERO INSIDE.
AVENGERS: YOU WILL NOT BREAK OUR DEFIANCE, ‘CAUSE WE ARE A STRONG ALLIANCE.
OUR DESIRE TO FIGHT LIKE FIRE, THE FLAMES IN OUR SOUL WILL RISE HIGHER.
WE WILL NEVER SURRENDER, WE ARE THE AVENGERS.
"Students took complete ownership of this play. They were thoughtful, dedicated, and fully invested in sharing this story."
"Students took complete ownership of this play. They were thoughtful, dedicated, and fully invested in sharing this story."
-- Erica Youssef, Educator
-- Erica Youssef, Educator
Students Respond:
Students Respond:
What motivates a person to take Heroic Action?
What motivates a person to take Heroic Action?
"... when they feel they must stop the chaos."
"... when they feel they must stop the chaos."
-- Kamarii
-- Kamarii
"...courage."
"...courage."
-- Journey
-- Journey
"...when they need to free the hero inside."
"...when they need to free the hero inside."
-- Gina
-- Gina
"When I saw the plays I felt confident. It made me realize that we have important lives. We can help the earth and maybe people too."
"When I saw the plays I felt confident. It made me realize that we have important lives. We can help the earth and maybe people too."
-- Anelis
-- Anelis
"This inspired me to do the right things in real life."
"This inspired me to do the right things in real life."
-- Evelyn
-- Evelyn
"You don’t need superpowers to be a hero and make a change - you just need your heart."
"You don’t need superpowers to be a hero and make a change - you just need your heart."
-- Antonio
-- Antonio
Jenna Byrne, James Fixter, Catherine Henell, Joseph Macho, Corrine Manzo, Emily Mirabello, Maria Resasco, Or Simovitch, Kimberly Sinatra, and Erica Youssef, Educators
Jenna Byrne, James Fixter, Catherine Henell, Joseph Macho, Corrine Manzo, Emily Mirabello, Maria Resasco, Or Simovitch, Kimberly Sinatra, and Erica Youssef, Educators
Dustin Ballard and Dave Seamon, Teaching Artists
Dustin Ballard and Dave Seamon, Teaching Artists
Kami Puente, Vice Principal
Kami Puente, Vice Principal
Michael Chiodo, Principal
Michael Chiodo, Principal
Photos by Brad Resnick Photography and Angela Peletier
Photos by Brad Resnick Photography and Angela Peletier
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