1st GRADE DRAMA

Winter - Directing Stage Picture

Big Question: How do we communicate to our ensemble the staging and performance ideas that live in our imaginations?

At the beginning of the semester, first grade worked in directing pairs or small groups to design a stage “map” for a scene from Julia Donaldson’s What the Ladybird Heard. Then, as directors, they guided their peers to bring their stage maps to life.

Spring - Stone Soup

Big Question: How might we reimagine a famous story as a performance to align with a larger campus celebration?

Next, as part of our campus Earth Day celebration, first grade performed in an adaptation of Stone Soup set in the MP&MS garden. This project allowed them to develop their memorization, vocal delivery, and proprioception (spatial awareness in relation to an audience).

Spring (Bonus) - Talent Show!

Big Question: How do we turn one of our talents into an act to perform for our peers?

For their final project, students collaborated to create and stage their own talent acts. They took ownership of the entire process– gathering and making key props, selecting background music, and staging their act. This ensemble is a talented bunch. They showcased everything from handling wild animals to dribbling to DJing – it was joyous! Enjoy the highlights reel below.

Student Reflections

What I enjoyed is that we got to do a play and that was my first one ever in my whole life.

Before I did drama I felt kind of empty but when I did drama I felt dramatic!

I liked the Stone Soup play because I liked doing it and it made me feel good.

I liked when we did the Stone Soup play. I also enjoyed making the talent show because I like showing my talents to other people.