Playwriting Fun

"How often have you improvised a wonderful scene only to say later that you wish you could have recorded it so as not to lose the magic?  Playwriting is a creative way to capture that magic - once it is on paper it is preserved forever.  The playwright writes scenes (developed into plays) which then are read and performed by any individual or group over time.  Through playwriting, youth can insure that their Imagination in Action carries on though their scripts." -4-H Theatre Arts Curriculum

This week we made up some of our own scenes and had the opportunity to write out our own scripts when we were finished.  We did not have a lot of time to write so you could incorporate playwriting in your homeschool.  Acting out scenes of things that happened in history is a great way to help children to remember what it is that they are learning.  You could also allow them to make up their own scenes.  If they do any of activities at home this week, I would love it if they would share them with us next Thursday.

Performing Arts Field Trip

We have updated information on the puppet show field trip.  There is an afternoon showing which will make things so much easier!!!

We will meet at eleven and eat our lunches and then leave at 11:30.  We will miss some of third hour but it will be a lot of fun.

We have to pay for our tickets in advance so I need a head count by this Thursday.  It is $7 per student.  Please let me know right away if you and/or your child can attend.  

Smiles or Shrieks?

Today we learned about how different methods of acting or performing gets different results from the audience. We also learned a little about different genres such as tragedy, comedy, horror, etc. 

I need to get some feedback from the parents about when and where we should have our year end talent show.  Would you rather have it during co-op or in the evening?

Today's tidbit from the 4-H performing arts curriculum:

Benefits of Dramatic Participation:

- Develops sensory awareness and listening skills

- Increases power of concentration and memory retention

- Increases understanding of body movement through pantomime and creative movement

- Provides opportunities for socialization

- Improves communication skills

- Fulfills need to communicate feelings

- Develops youth's self-awareness as they review their responses to improvised situation

- Develops empathy towards others

- Enhances decision-making skills

- Provides a dynamic way to explore group's conflicts and interpersonal relationships, perhaps arriving at alternative behaviors

- Integrates the art (e.g. dance, drama, music, art and literature)

- Develops cooperation and teamwork

- Brings educational concepts alive (e.g. dramatize historical event, learn math by portraying a bank teller)

- Expands the imagination

- Increases facility in speaking 

Dancing Scarves

We danced with scarves today.  

Straight from our 4-H book:
"In Dancing Scarves you discovered what it is like to become one with a pop   The scarves helped you move more freely as you thought less about yourself, and instead, focused more in the scarf's movements.  Your actions becomes more expressive and unrestricted.  So, too, would any prop provide you that freedom to develop your character.

Think of all the ways an umbrella can add to your portrayal of your role.  If you play a formal, proper person, you might tuck the umbrella tightly under your arm.  A punky, energetic character might twirl the umbrella while walking briskly down the street.  

A prop like an umbrella should have the ability to expand your character's physical and emotional expressions.  Props are not just something to keep your hands form fidgeting; they have a clear purpose to your character."

Homeschoolers Play

I just wanted to let all of you know about a play that is going to be put on by homeschoolers that you can go and watch.  
It is called Pirates! the Musical and is FREE:
https://tmp.org/index.php/homeschoolers-academy/

Valentine's

Those of you who are passing out Valentine's, the children in our class are: 

Madeline 

Tillie 

Asher 

Zoe 

Lacey 

Sariah 

Mollie 

Jon 

Evangaline 

Alina 

While the cat's away, the mice will play.

It sounds as though teacher Nalani and Alina did a wonderful job in my absence.  Here is what she had to say about class this week: 

Today's class went rather well, I think!
Alina was well-prepared and did a fantastic job!  
We divided up into two groups.
They did Skillathon teamwork workshops in: 
-Building a character based on random wigs and hats
-Reading a script using different dialects, and inflection
-Putting on a puppet show
-Building a puppet using household items.      

A LOT of FUN was had!!