We're in our second full week of Bluenose, and teachers and classes in particular love the show. We asked the teachers that attended the first week for feedback, and were overwhelmed with the response.
Particularly interesting was this letter from Cindy Numata, a second-grade teacher at Lowell Elementary School:
Our class LOVED this play!
Brandon Simmons and Hana Lass in Bluenose. Photo by Chris Bennion.In our reading, we are trying to identify the "big ideas" or "author's lessons." Before the play, I told them that the play was about pirates, but we should also be looking for the "big ideas." When we got back from the show, I had the students write that "the play was about pirates, but on a deeper level, it was about: ______________________. "
Here are things the students came up with and that I kept track of on a class chart.
* Someone might be different but you shouldn't be mean to them.
* Diversity is good.
* Don't be afraid of differences.
* It's OK to be different.
* You can be the boss of yourself.
* Trust yourself.
* You should make your own choices.
* Knowledge if valuable.
* The boss isn't always right.
* You don't know everything.
* You may look different, but you can find similarities.
* You should learn different things.
* Don't be a know-it-all.
Fantastic ideas, all. Thanks to Ms. Numata's class for sharing.
Bluenose runs through December 14th, 2008 in SCT's Eve Alvord Theatre.
