Modernizing Fairy Tales

At the beginning of the school year, Jenell Novello and I came together to discuss the option of revamping our school play. We wanted more student ownership, choice and a cross-curricular connection for our 8th grade performance piece. We decided we wanted our students to go through the whole process of putting a production together, from creating a script to costuming and of course, acting or directing.

We next had to decide on a realistic, engaging topic for our students to tackle in their script writing. I love the trend in YA fantasy and science fiction where authors are modernizing fairy tales for today's audiences. From The Lunar Chronicles series to The Woodcutter Sisters Enchanted and Hero, my students are reading these updated classics and enjoying the new spin.

Our guiding questions for this project evolved from these book topics and our motivation for the play revamp:

• How can classic children’s fairy tales be updated to entertain a modern audience?
• What does it take to put on a professional performance? 
• What components are required to make it entertaining and interesting?

After deciding on a topic and the guiding questions, we started looking at creative ways to find the community engagement piece. Each year, we have put together family night around the Renaissance to showcase the projects and art pieces our 7th graders have created. This seemed to be a perfect audience fit for our 8th graders' performances. In addition, we have arranged for three of our acting troupes to visit our NCS elementary school, STAR Academy, to perform for students in April. 

We also wanted there to be a larger real-world connection as well. Working with our Technology teacher, aka our Field Trip Queen,  Jennifer Music, we put together a multiple day field trip to Ashland, Oregon. With the help of some creative fundraising, every 8th grader who wanted to attend the trip was able to sign up to go. Oregon Shakespeare Festival offers both the chance to experience high quality theater productions, but also acting workshops and the opportunity to explore a college campus, Southern Oregon University. 

Sustainability on Campus [Update]

Once our sixth grade students came back from camp, many were eager to implement some changes on campus to reduce waste. I shared with them the data we had collected the week before while they were gone (that about 50% of the items going into the recycling bins were actually not recycling making all items have to go into the big trash bin for pick up instead of the big recycling bin for pick up). Many also voiced concern that we use so many plastic and cardboard containers for food here as well as disposable forks and spoons. We reflected in our notebooks individually and then had a group discussion on why this issue is important. Next, we brainstormed ideas on how to help the problem (in pairs and small groups). Students then shared ideas with the class and decided on which idea they would like to try and implement. Students grouped together and made action plans.

Now, we've headed into actually putting our plans into action. Many emailed Mrs. Goldman, our administrator, for permission to set up projects that would impact the whole campus. Others wrote proposals to Ms. Meindl and student leadership about ideas for spirit weeks and rally games to educate about recycling. Some students have signed us up for TerraCycle a company that collects reusable items to upcycle them into products like pencil pouches and backpacks. They made collection bins and put a message into the school bulletin about where to turn in the items students collect. Other students have worked on trying to convince the school to use reusable trays. They met with a high school group from PFAA and brainstormed next steps. The highschoolers had met with Mr. Leo to discuss options a few weeks ago.

Another really exciting development is the cross-curricular involvement. Ms. Meindl is collecting used water bottles for an art installation as has received clearance from Mr. Leo to display it in the cafeteria. Mrs. Hanson has also helped students collect more data through measuring waste produced on campus to help support their letters for change and to give them a starting point to compare to later after implement their ideas. Now, I need to gear students up for sharing out with the class what they've accomplished (beyond just sharing on Schoology). It feels like we need a re-measuring of waste on campus to see if we really have made a difference. Hopefully, by then our actions will deserve a celebration of what we've accomplished.

Blankets Get a Home!

In January, our 13 knitted blankets were among the  880 donated blankets to WIC, Ronald McDonald Home, UC Davis Children’s Hospital, Shriner’s Hospital, WellSpace, Sacramento Children’s Home, the Life Center, and Foster Care Licensing!  The collective effort of our 8th grade students definitely provided individuals with the sense of love and security!