PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
NUMBER OF SESSIONS: Two sessions of 55 minutes duration each plus final evaluation and cleaning up.
TARGET LANGUAGE: Totally in English, totally in Spanish, or bi-lingual
TARGET POPULATION: 7 - 9 years old (3rd grade).
Language and literacy is the main focus of this integrated arts experience. Based on “Calabash cat and his amazing journey" story by James Rumford students will be provided with a light cardboard paper silhouette picture. They can choose one of the characters from this story and complete the shadow puppet creation by selecting the silhouette, tracing, drawing, cutting, decorating or coloring it. Their journey ends when they tape the sticks on it and they finally see their own bi-dimensional shadow puppet to come alive on the transparent screen. They will simulate an actual puppet theater representation of Calabash cat story in front of their classmates.
Brief synopsis of the story “Calabash cat and his amazing journey”: A West African cat sets out one day to find where the world ends. His adventures take him across a desert, grasslands, a jungle, and the ocean, until he finds what he is looking for. This original tale from James Rumford will keep you thinking long after you have closed the covers of this book – about our one world, and about seeking knowledge and finding wisdom.
OUTCOMES
At the complexion of this art experience students will be able to:
Appreciate and learn about different habitats in our fragile planet called “Earth”.
Identify three or more different types of “Calabash cat and his amazing journey” characters through their puppet making.
Create more shadow puppets.
Work with other classmates on specific group projects.
Know and identify different types of puppetry.
OBJECTIVES:
-
To expose students through a creative art process.
-
To accomplish CCSS: Reading standards for informational text 3rd
grade: Integration of knowledge and ideas #7, and speaking and
listening standards 3rd
grade: Presentation of knowledge and ideas #5: Students will gain
understanding of the story through the use of puppetry by creating
the characters and performing Calabash cat at the end. -
To get students interest by approaching them from a playful and artistic
medium such as shadow theater and shadow puppets! -
To set up an art experience in a way that promotes individual and group
effort among students, promoting social skills and understanding the
concept of team-work. -
To provide a pedagogical and unique tool to teachers so they can use it
in their future lesson plans. -
To use English, Spanish, or both languages to follow directions and also to
tell a story using puppetry. -
To encourage and challenge students to use Shadow Puppet Theater and
Human Theater because it draws on such a wide variety of art forms.
It allows the participants to explore different kinds of art, such
as music, puppets, painting, theater, drawing, movement, literature,
etc. -
To promote a safe environment where we will explore and play, allowing
theater, and puppetry to light our way of learning and joy!
- Materials:
- File folders
- Skewers 10-12 inches long.
- Markers – Colors – Pencils.
- Cellophane paper of different colors.
- Paper fasteners.
- Tape: maskin and transparent.
- Hole punches.
- Scissors.
- Sharpeners – Erasers.
- Glue.
- Technical requirements:
- A table with 3’ high and 4’ x 1’ dimensions.
- Three overhead projectors.
- Another table or space for placing on the materials.
- Wall outlets.
- Some darkness inside the room.