This past Friday at our Mi dor la dor (Grandparents/special visitors day), I had the privilege of watching for a second year the 1st grade marionette show focusing on fables. Like last year, to say it was outstanding would be an understatement. The amount of effort and time that went into this grand production was clearly apparent. It is so much more than just your typical 1st grade play. Let's just say the kvell factor was high! The marionette show has become a tradition at LGA that is quite unique to our school. There has become a cult following (ok maybe I am exaggerating a bit and I am the only one obsessed with it...) amongst the students and faculty waiting to see what the show will be like.
Starting months ago, Rana, the 1st grade teacher sits down with her students and introduces the class to fables. They read different fables. They learn about what makes a good fable. And finally with much anticipation they hear which fables they will be reenacting for the LGA community.
It would be enough if that was the only part of the show but what happens next is even more special. Each student carefully and meticulously designs their own marionette character. Rana sits down with each child and helps them design and think through what their puppet should look like. It is quite fascinating to watch as each child comes to it with a bit of a different spin. The students discuss costume design. Many of the fable characters are animals and students study about that animal to make sure they depict it correctly.
Rana works with each individual student on their lines. She carefully helps each student analyze and really "get into character." Students learn about what it means to be articulate and to annunciate every line. She coaches each student on specific words to give them the right dramatic flair they need for that just perfect stage presence. One parent of a child with stage freight remarked to me that her daughter who wouldn't take part in last year's Kindergarten group performance easily and with grace was EXCITED to be performing. Her mom credits Rana for giving her child the confidence to succeed.
Kitty, our art teacher works with Rana to design a marionette curtain that is easy for the kids to use and that captures the essence of all of the fables.
On the day of the show, students line up in all black and assemble back stage after many a run through and a dress rehearsal just for preschool students (they are an easy crowd to perform for!) our students excitingly start the show for the large assembled crowd. We are not a school with a fancy sound system and we don't have enough microphones to go around so students need to really project. And project they do...one visitor remarks how impressed he was with the fact that every student spoke clearly and loudly. No small fete for 6 and 7 year olds.
A big factor in the success of this type of production is no doubt our teachers at LGA. Rana and all of the other teachers who create these type of shows with our students give so much effort and time outside of the classroom to make these events memorable for our students. This commitment to our students is another factor that makes our school so different and special. I thank all of them for sharing a vision of educational excellence and creating powerful learning moments.
So why is this posting named, "Tree, tree, beautiful tree...?" you'll have to wait until the end of the production to find out. It's about 20 minutes long but well worth it. You can skip over my introduction. I hope you enjoy the show as much as I do...
