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 Last Stop on Market Street 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!
What does this story help you learn? (New dances? Parts of a ukulele? Importance of playing?)
Where will your audience travel? (France, Tokyo, a volcano? In a crowd, surfing the waves?)
Why is the ukulele magical? (Ignites our imagination? Expresses our moods?
2. Next, think about the BODY and the movement /music for the journey:
Are you inspired to learn new dance moves? (tango, waltz, two-step, or a dance a friend knows?)
Will you demonstrate when, where and how to play the ukulele?
Can you incorporate different types of ukulele music? (Hawaiian, Portuguese, classic, pop?)
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 respectfully represent cultures from the story? (Explore your students’ cultural backgrounds. Perhaps families would like to share traditional objects from their home? What props can be made/used to represent cultures with dignity?)
What materials do you have on hand to create pretend ukuleles? (Carboard from cereal boxes, string or yarn, milk containers?)
Can you invoke the tropical feel of Hawaii or the vibrant arts of Portugal? (Bright colors, the sound of the ocean, the smell of flowers, can this be staged outdoors?)
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!
