TheStuffedAnimalsandFragilePeoplePlay

DuringfreechoicetimeLaurynandJemmawerebusycreatingastructureintheblockarea.Iwatchedasitbecamemoreandmoreelaborate. Theyseemedtobeformulatingideasaboutwhattheywerebuildingastheyworked. IteventuallybecameahomeforJemma’sfragiledollandavarietyofstuffedanimals.

Atcleanuptimebothbeggedmetobeabletosavewhattheyhadbuilt.“Canwesaveit,please?” “Whataboutcircletime?”Iasked,aswealwaysgatheronthecarpet,rightwheretheirstructurewassitting. Wefiguredouttogetherthatwecouldmovethedollhouseofftherollingtable.LaurynandJemmacarefullyreassembledtheirstructure,enlistingthehelpoftheirclassmateswhowereinterested,too,inhelpingthempreservetheirwork.

Jemmathendecidedthatthiswastobeasetforaplay.Sheaskedmetowriteasignforher.

Itsaid,“TheStuffedAnimalsandFragilePeoplePlay,byJemmaandLauryn.”

AfterlunchJemmaandLaurynaskedtopresenttheirplay.FrancescaandStellawereinterested,too,andwantedtohelpperformit. Allofthemworkedtogethertoarrangechairsforanaudienceandannouncedtotheclassthattheywereinvitedtoaperformance.

Theaudiencegatheredfortheproduction.

Allofuswerecaptivatedaswewatchedyourideascometolife.

Attheendoftheplaythecasttookabow.Weweresoproudoftheiraccomplishment.

Whatitmeans…

Allofyou,Jemma,Lauryn,StellaandFrancesca,wereinvestedinfollowingthroughwithyourideas.Youcreatedastorylineforaplay,together,andgaveitasagifttoyourclassmatesandteachers. Youstuckwithitforaconsiderablelengthoftime.Workingtogetheryoufiguredoutwaystocreativelyovercomeobstacles. Youwereabletogatheragrouptoseeyourplay.Youthoughtfullyconsideredhowtoaccommodateandengagetheaudienceasyoudramaticallypresentedtheideasthatwereinterestingtoyou.

Bothofyou,JemmaandLauryn,inspiredeachotherandthosearoundyouinthisprocess.

OpportunitiesandPossibilities…

Theclassnowhasanexampleofhowtoputonathoughtfulplay.Theyhaveseenhowaplayiscreated,howmanydetailsareinvolved,andwhataperformanceentails.Thisprovidesanewopportunityforeveryone. Wenowhaveanexampleofthecourageittakestogetupinfrontofagrouptoperformandalsothepersonalrewardsofbeingabletodoitsuccessfully. Thisclassisalivewiththepossibilitiesofenactingdramaticideasforthegroup.Iamsoexcitedtoseewhatcomesnext!

Lauryn’sfamilyview…

“Thisisagreatwaytoshareachild’sexperienceatschoolwiththeparents.Onthedaythisoccurred,Laurynhadmentionedthatsheworkedonaprojectwithherfriendsbutweonlyhadavagueideawhatshehaddone.Thepicturesandnarrativetogetherclearlyshowwhatthechildrenaccomplished. “Sometimestheseeminglysimplethings,likedramaticplay,aretakenforgrantedbyus.Lauryndoesnothaveanysiblingssoweseldomseegroupplayathome.Thelearningstoryreallyhighlightsthecoordination,cooperation,andproblemsolvinginvolvedinputtingonsuchaproduction. “WhilereviewingthelearningstorywithLauryn,sheexcitedlysharedherrecollectionsfromthatdaywithusandwhyitwasspecialtoher. “WeareveryimpressedandproudofthethoughtfulnessandcreativitydemonstratedbyLaurynandherfriends.” ~JoyceandNorman

Jemma’sfamilyview…

"Thankyouforthiswonderfulstory.It'sgreattoseethissideofJemma,whichwedon'talwaysgettosee.(Performing,takingleadership,workingwithfriendsandclassmates,creativity.) “Thewayyouwereabletoworkwiththem,bringouttheircreativityandenhanceitasasolutiontoapotentialproblemisamazing.WearesohappytohavethisglimpseintoJemma'sworldintheclassroom.Andwewanttoseetheplay!” “P.S.Lovethetitle!” ~DavisandJulie

"IlikedtheplaythatIdid."~Jemma

TheStuffedAnimalsandFragilePeoplePlay

GiddensSchoolSeattle,WashingtonSarahGese,teacher