It is amazing what can happen in a red barn . . . or on a stage--
PAST BIG PRODUCTIONS that were the "sharing" of a year-long focused curriculum on affective and various "big picture" topics. This stretched students thinking, allowing them to connect closely with the theatrical piece and deeply ingrain their learning. Look under Productions.
Our G.T. program focuses on affective development and mastery of success skills (communication, teamwork, adaptability, creativity, work ethic, time management, etc.) within the context of a year-long theme!
CURRICULUM FOCUSE FOR PAST YEARS
2023 - 2024
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Focus: Music Matters
MUSIC - THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE OF MANKIND --a new way of reading & thinking I am a musician --church organist, former choir director, and have played the piano for YEARS --I even dabble in guitar.
The ability to pick up and read a piece of music connects us with those around the world who speak different languages but are able to read the same music we read. POWERFUL. A study from Northwestern University revealed that in order to fully reap the cognitive benefits of a music class, kids can’t just sit there and let the sound of music wash over them. They have to be actively engaged in the music. It’s important to engage with the sound in order to reap the benefits and see changes in the central nervous system. You’re not going to become physically fit just by watching sports. G.T. students this year will join the thousands of those around the world who read the universal language of mankind --music. Students will experience playing a guitar that will become their very own (younger students will play the soprano ukulele & baritone ukulele). They will also experience playing a keyboard, the African drums, and their own recorder --and composing their own music. |
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2022 - 2023
Focus: NOTICE THE MIRACLES ALL AROUND YOU AS YOU JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE STOP --MAKE WISE CHOICES ON YOUR JOURNEY OF LIFE Coming May 2023 --our version of "Charlotte's Web" DON'T MISS IT! Students in grades 2 - 7 will learn to look for and appreciate the everyday things we tend to take for granted --the miracles that are all around us. They will explore how their life is like a journey that presents to them the freedom and challenge to choose how they view that journey. Second, third, and fourth graders will read, "Charlotte's Web" in preparation for the G.T. theater presentation in May. Fifth and sixth graders will read "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" by Homer, keeping with the theme (they read E.B. White's book two years ago as part of our year-long focus on anthropomorphism). Seventh grade students will read "Watership Down" and learn about leadership styles, create a podcast connecting the novel to leadership, as well as exploring the theme for this year.
All three books fit nicely with the focus of "Notice the Miracles" and enable students to consider that their own journey in life is an opportunity to choose the way they respond about what happens to them, and understand their power to choose to see the miracles that are hidden in much of life. Life always asks us a question: What now? It perhaps doesn't matter what we expect of life, but rather what does life expect of us. |
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2021 - 2022
PERSEVERANCE "The Adventures of Matilda" NEVER GIVE UP "THE ADVENTURES OF MATILDA" Focus: Quitting is a choice... so is persisting Students were involved in reading classical mysteries and "viewing" famous vintage mystery films. They also practiced deductive reason, along with all types of problem solving activities --all required perseverance. Younger students looked at mysteries through vintage "Scooby Doo" cartoons, looking for red herrings and other types of detective solutions.
PERSEVERANCE is required in so many aspects of life. Without perseverance, "The Adventures of Matilda" --which was to have been performed in late spring the year schools were closed for Covid --would never have happened. Over the span of three years, costumes became too small and students moved. YET, a new and better version came to be. Read the story of this performance and see the video and photographs here: |
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2020 -2021
Anthropomorphism - READING & WRITING "discovering who we are and who we want to be..." click: THE NOVEL PROJECTFOCUS: Students will --
* Write an anthropomorphic novel (which will be published as hardcover) * EXTEND their reading vocabulary & creative / critical thinking through -- Determining Meaning in Aesop's Fables and anthropomorphic. novel quotes Practice ACTIVE, active reading Challenge their thinking in mental puzzles Develop creativity, organization skills, and perseverance in writing a novel WOW! Looks at the student novels!!!!Finished student novels above --
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2019-2020 Roald Dahl's, "MATILDA!"
OUR PERFORMANCE OF "MATILDA" WAS CANCELED THIS YEAR DUE TO COVID WHEN ALL SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED . . .
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FOCUS: The POWER OF FICTION READING - a roadmap to better understanding how people of different ages, personalities, circumstances, and places think, and using that knowledge to create a great life! Matilda is a gifted child. She is an avid reader and for some reason is able to move objects with her eyes. Unfortunately, Matilda's family aren't very nice to her. She has much to teach us about handling problems and finding the power of reading! We are spending a year with Roald Dahl, focusing on reading, reading, reading. We will celebrate our year with a parody performance that combines Roald Dahl's book with the play, the movie, and our own fun ideas! Can you imagine Trunchbull, Miss Honey, and the Wormwoods played by elementary children? We have expanded on the magical powers of Matilda too... It will be fun. |
DON'T MISS THIS ONE!!!
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2018-2019 INSIDE OUT CLICK HERE: "Inside Out!": SELF CONTROL --understanding our emotions and how to respond to them in effective, positive ways, sharing that learning in a manner that challenges our creativity and educates kids from other schools!!! 
...a positive outlook will always look to the sunlight --not the shadows
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...so many had to live it --why would we not have the courage to hear it?
2015-2016 CLICK: HERE CINDERELLA!: PARADOX - Do good things always happen to good people? Is Cinderella rewarded because she is good or because she is beautiful? What is integrity? What does integrity look like when times are hard? 
...it is in giving that we receive --those in need are all around us
2013 - 2014. (IMMIGRATION) CLICK HERE The Hundred Dresses: FORESIGHT --it isn't always possible to right a wrong --developing empathy. Understanding what you do or don't do matters 
...going through Ellis Island, not understanding the language
2013-2014 CLICK HERE Mrs. Dunn's Lovely Farm: PERSEVERANCE & VISION can bring joy --even in hard times  "I Love Lucy" and Vitametavegamin!
2011-2012 CLICK HERE Alice in Wonderland - THE POWER & WISDOM OF IMAGINATION!!! What can be imagined, can be, taking us to places and meeting people we could not do otherwise! Finding joy in creativity! 
The joy of Puck! Although this was presented by elementary students, the play used Shakespeare's ORIGINAL language!
2009-2010 CLICK HERE Harvest Celebration - APPRECIATION! Living in a time that can only be imagined, finding a deeper understanding that can only come through experience |
2016-2017. CLICK HERE BRUNDIBAR! (the children of Terezin)- THE POWER OF THE ARTS in even the worst of times. "Brundibar" warns us that viewing those you "see" as different than you are, results in unwarranted prejudice and discrimination. Stepping into another person's life and "being" that person on stage can help you discover how alike we all truly are --even those we thought were different 
... B E L I E V E --fairy godmothers are found in many forms throughout our lives
2014-2015 CLICK HERE "A Christmas Carol": THE POWER OF THE ARTS to influence people for good; seeing yourself in another person; the joy of giving and the dangers of self-centeredness 
I have a hundred dresses all lined up...
2013-2014 CLICK HERE Story of Annie Moore: COURAGE can be found in unlikely places --even in children 
Four immigrants and a dancing Tomato!
2012-2013 CLICK HERE Lights, Camera, Comedy!": FOCUS: CHANGE --understanding and appreciating the progression of technology, while recognizing that change is always continuous --even in our lives 
"We're all crazy here!"
2010-2011 CLICK HERE A Midsummer Night's Dream (Shakespeare): ACCEPTING A CHALLENGE - There is a desire within us all to excel at something difficult, to reach for something great instead of good enough, finding the satisfaction we've longed for, discovering we can do that which we never thought possible 
Our Wampanoag village --thank you parents for helping bring it to life!
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