~ Isabel Chen
English Teacher
~ Isabel Chen
English Teacher
Embedded Files
English Teacher
Every spring, teamwork, creativity, and academic growth come together in an exciting adventure in first grade! In the Animal Drama project, students collaborate with their classmates to write a play in the animal fantasy genre. They use their imaginations while learning the importance of working together and sharing ideas. This project is all about having fun while developing new skills and discovering the joy of creativity. By the end, students have not only created something amazing but have also grown as team players and creative thinkers!
Teams Build Dreams: Collaboration and Flexible Thinking
Writing and producing an entire play is no small feat for our young learners. Each student needs to develop a plot, including the characters and setting, as well as a problem for them to solve. Luckily, students have each other for support along the way. Encouraging each other becomes second nature when they begin to recognize the value in everyone’s contributions. Partners share their ideas with confidence because they trust their teachers and peers to give positive feedback respectfully. Compromise is a key skill that they develop by learning to blend different ideas into a story that everyone can be proud of.
The project is dynamic from start to finish. Even after the writing stage is finished, our first graders have stay flexible as they rehearse and produce their show. “Change the setting here, raise and lower your voice there!” Changing characters mid-show and adding sound effects are all part of the fun. We love to see them embracing changes and improvements with an open mind and a positive attitude.
From Readers to Writers
The Animal Drama project aligns with our overall curriculum. In fall semester, we focus on reading and identifying essential story elements. Story after story, our students meet interesting characters who encounter problems and discover creative solutions.
In spring semester, through the project, we task students with applying all they have learned to create their own story. Students build up their story using the building blocks they know a story needs: characters, setting, and a problem and solution.
Working from the ground up allows the students to explore the infinite possibilities of being an author. While developing characters, rabbits are a popular choice for students. Some students choose a classic setting like a forest, while others add humor to their story with an unexpected setting like the ocean.
Showcasing Our Work
Students perform their shows to parents on English Open Day in May. This project shows how collaborative attitudes and confident students flourish in a school where each student’s voice holds equal weight. In this environment, our children’s creativity can grow alongside their academic achievements. Please take a look at some of the best work from last spring semester in the section below, and let’s look forward to another great Animal Drama showcase next May!
The Big Net
★ Cooper Ward 魏力恩 207
Characters: Dolphin, Octopus, and Crab
Dolphin: Hi! Octopus.
Octopus: Hi! Dolphin. What a nice day in the ocean!
Dolphin: Oh…I’m not having a good day.
Octopus: Why?
Dolphin: I want to get out of this big net, but I can’t.
Octopus: Let me help you pull the net open. It didn’t work! Let’s ask Crab for help.
Dolphin: Ok!
Octopus: Crab, can you help us?
Crab: What happened?
Octopus: Dolphin got trapped by a net!
Crab: Ok!
Crab: Let me help you cut it open.
Dolphin: Thank you, Crab.
Crab: You’re welcome.
Octopus: Yeah! We solved the problem.
Dolphin: Let’s play together!
The Strongest Dragon
★ Matt Lou 樓羿非 208
Characters: Longan, Goozilana, and Rekle
R: Hello, Longan.
L: Hello, Rekle.
R: What do you want to do?
L: I want to knock down a tower.
R: Sounds fun. Let’s knock down the one on the right side.
R: But I want to go to the left!
L: I’m stronger. Please go with me.
R: No, I’m stronger!
L: Let’s fight and find out!
R: Ok, Let’s fight.
Rekle and Longan Fight
L&R: Huhu-hu. Stop! Hu hu hu hu. Time out!
L: We are both strong. But we still don’t know who’s stronger.
R: Let’s ask him.
Rekle points to a big monster.
L: Who’s that?
R: It’s a dragon. I don’t know his name.
L: Hello, who are you?
G: I’m Goozilana. What do you want?
R: Take a look at us. Tell us something.
L: Who’s the strongest? Me, or Rekle?
G: I’ll show you what strong is!
Goozilana spits fire at Rekle and Longan
L & R: Ahh! Oh… well we know who’s the strongest now. Run away!
The Bad Luck Fish
★ Mia Wang 王祜薇 203
Characters: Fish, Jellyfish
Fish: La la la~ Hello, Jellyfish!
Jellyfish: Hello, Fish.
Fish: What are you doing?
Jellyfish: I am hungry.
Fish: What do you want to eat? I have a lot of food.
Jellyfish: I want to eat you!
Fish: No! Don’t eat me! I will run! Bye bye!
Jellyfish: No! My lunch! Come back here!
Fish: I must be quick and find a place to hide!
Jellyfish: You can’t hide from me!
Fish: Oh no, she will catch me!
Jellyfish: Ha! Ha! I will eat you!
Fish: Oh no, someone help! Ah, I can hide in this seaweed.
Jellyfish: Are you hiding? I will find you.
Fish: Shh… I need to be quiet!
Jellyfish: I said you can’t hide. I’m going to find you. Ah ha! there you are!
Fish: Please don’t eat me!
Jellyfish: Come to me, my lunch!
Fish quickly swims around Jellyfish
Jellyfish: No! You can’t go!
Fish: A ha! I am faster than you.
Jellyfish: Ah, I found you but you got away!
Fish: Stop trying to eat me!
Jellyfish: Ha! Ha! Ha! I will get you next time, yummy lunch!
Why, Apple Man?
★ Jed Luan 欒詔允 204
Characters: Shark Man, Apple Man, and Meat Man
SM: I want to eat you, Apple Man!
AM: I am so scared.
SM: Don’t worry! Chomp!
AM: Where am I? Oh nooo~
MM: Hello, I can help you.
AM: Who is that?
MM: I am Meat Man.
AM: You said you can help me?
MM: Yes, I can push you out of here. Let’s go this way!
AM: I am ready.
MM: Okay. Push!
SM: My tummy!!! Where is the bathroom?
AM: Yes! I am out.
SM: Ughh!
MM: I’m out, too.
MM: Where are we?
AM: I think we are in the bathroom.
MM: Oh~ NO!!!
Flush!
SM: I am hungry again now.
Eagle Shark vs. Super Turtle
★ Curry Fan 范誠希 201
Characters: Platypus, Eagle Shark, and Super Turtle
E: I want to eat Platypus.
P: Oh no! I need to go.
S: Don’t worry! I will scare him away. Ready, set, go! Shoo! Get out of here, Eagle Shark!
P: Oh no, he is not leaving. Eagle Shark is too strong!
S: Don’t worry, I will push you away. Oh no, the Eagle Shark is stopping me! I can’t push you away. Then, I will break Eagle Shark’s eggs with my sword. Hi-ya!
E: No! Don’t break my eggs!
Eagle Shark runs away.
S: We did it!
P: Yes! Thank you!
I am Hungry
★ Dolly Chen 陳怡潔 201
Characters: Rabbit, Dog, Pig, and Tiger
Pig: I am so hungry!
Rabbit: Ok, I will find food for you to eat.
Pig: Thank you!
Tiger: Me too. I am so hungry, too.
Rabbit: I think I ran around too much to find food for you. I will be hungry now.
Pig: Oh no! What can you eat?
Tiger: Huh? What does Rabbit eat?
Rabbit: I know where I can get some food.
Rabbit looks in the garden.
Rabbit: I found some carrots! Yay!
Pig: Let’s all eat carrots together. Om nom nom!
Dog: Ok!
Everyone eats carrots together.
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