MVES is an arts integrated school, but many students have not had the opportunity of seeing a theater production performed by professional actors. The play we are planning to see is based on one of their favorite books series, Mo Willems' Piggy and Elephant. For growing readers, these books are accessible, while also being hilarious and silly. I see my students' faces light up when they devour these books, laughing and giggling at the antics of Piggy and Gerald. For some, these are the first books they have read and understood independently, cover to cover.
The characters in the book, Piggy and Elephant, have become friends in our classroom and now we have the chance to see them come to life on stage. We have spent time analyzing speech bubbles and movement lines on the pages. Now, I cannot wait to see how the students make the connection between what the author/illustrator includes, and the choices the actors make in the play. This experience will allow students to see the thread between literature and theater, between what's expressed in a book, and how that translates to live actors, props, and lights. Plus, this play will be a first for many of my students who come from low-income families. They are going to be blown away to see their pals Piggy and Gerald in real life!
About my class
MVES is an arts integrated school, but many students have not had the opportunity of seeing a theater production performed by professional actors. The play we are planning to see is based on one of their favorite books series, Mo Willems' Piggy and Elephant. For growing readers, these books are accessible, while also being hilarious and silly. I see my students' faces light up when they devour these books, laughing and giggling at the antics of Piggy and Gerald. For some, these are the first books they have read and understood independently, cover to cover.
The characters in the book, Piggy and Elephant, have become friends in our classroom and now we have the chance to see them come to life on stage. We have spent time analyzing speech bubbles and movement lines on the pages. Now, I cannot wait to see how the students make the connection between what the author/illustrator includes, and the choices the actors make in the play. This experience will allow students to see the thread between literature and theater, between what's expressed in a book, and how that translates to live actors, props, and lights. Plus, this play will be a first for many of my students who come from low-income families. They are going to be blown away to see their pals Piggy and Gerald in real life!
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