Lesson 4 - Experience
Reader’s Theatre
The Grown-Up Scoop
Books Alive! Student Entertainment (BASE) Reader’s Theatre is designed to engage participants in social emotional learning and apply lessons taught through reading and stories.
Creating Your Production
Together create your own version of I’m New Here in its entirety or part. To help you through this process, follow these five steps:
1. Think about a journey you will take. Use VOICE/WORDS, to describe a plan, divided into three parts: a beginning, a middle, and an end. Just a sentence or two will do!
Which moments from Maria’s, Jin’s or Fatimah’s journey will you highlight? (Will you show them being introduced to the class? Will we see flashbacks to their time at the former schools?)
How can you recreate the setting in your space? (rearrange chairs to create classroom, use open space for soccer field, etc.)
What will the dialogue be like? (Will you use exact lines from the book? Or create your own words/sentences?)
2. Next, think about the BODY and the movement /music for the journey:
How can you use movement or facial expressions to show the emotions the characters are feeling?
What sounds might you hear in the book’s setting? (kicking a soccer ball, kids playing and chatting, etc.) How might you incorporate those into your play?
Is there a way to incorporate music into your play? (i.e., play background music that fits characters’ emotions, research and sing a song about welcoming others)
3. Use your IMAGINATION, creating/collecting some props/costumes from around the house/classroom. Go back to your plan, the middle of your journey:
How will you represent the characters in your play? (through clothing, name tags, props, etc.?)
Can you access certain items seen in the book (soccer ball, pencil and paper, paintbrushes, markers etc.)? Could you design them with materials around the house/classroom?
Using a paper roll and markers, think about the amazing backdrop you can create for your production!
4. Now FOCUS:
How are the child(ren) feeling about this endeavor? Why? Are they able to verbalize their favorite thing about this process? What feels easy? Are there problems?
5. PRACTICE: run through your production in full costumes and using all your props.
COOPERATION for your own dress rehearsals: Not all children may want to perform, solo or in a group. All members of a family, classroom, or community can contribute to a performance. Cooperating comes in many forms: gathering props; drawing artwork for scenery, invitations, programs; creating outfits; singing/dancing; providing background sounds; adjusting lighting; distributing flyers; and LISTENING!
Perform!
You’ve created your play, now it’s time to perform it! When your group feels ready, invite an audience. Your audience could be family members, friends, other students/classes, or community members!
Interactive Media Connections!
Maybe you would prefer to bring your play to life through media as opposed to the stage. We get it! Explore possibilities connecting themes of each story through creative templates inspired by Adobe Express!
