A few days ago, I decided to get the puppets out. This is always a BIG decision. Some years the puppets never come out! But this year I was excited to give it a try. I let the students play freely with the puppets for a few days. Then I 'let it slip' that I had a puppet theater. OH MY!!!!
Everyone was excited to try the puppet theater! I told them that if we were going to bring it out, they needed to have a 'plan' for what they were going to perform. Either they needed a story or a picture or a script to go by. They ran and got out their writing folder and got to work!
Did I mention this was during their morning play time when they can do anything in the room? And your children were choosing to write!
When the first 'script' was presented, I rolled in the theater. We discussed a few expectations - mostly that only three could be behind the theater at a time, and how to take turns.
This was still play time for them! This is what they did almost completely on their own:
Some students sang songs, others told a story. There was even some poetry recited!
It was amazing to me to watch them organize themselves and watch each other perform so respectfully. I was just observing from the far end of the room! This is remarkable! I was so proud of all of them and knew you would be, too!
There will be more shows coming. More 'scripts' are in the works!