The Practical Academics and Lifeskills (PA&LS) class at Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School (BMLSS) recently created and filmed a puppet show to help teach other students about the importance of listening and not judging others.
As part of the class’ culminating project, students explored visual art, drama, and music in order to create a production that combined all of the artistic elements they studied over the past semester.
The play is based on the story of The Three Little Pigs, but the class created their very own spin on it – their wolf isn’t a bad guy, he just has a bad cold and wants to borrow a cup of sugar from the pigs next door. They don’t listen to him, and just because he is a wolf, they assume he wants to eat them. Finally, the third pig tells his brothers they should listen and not judge the wolf. When the pigs realize he is a good wolf, they make friends and get invited to the wolf’s house for cake.
The class wrote the script collaboratively, which reinforced literacy skills. They then worked together to build the puppets and the set before performing and filming the show, which was shared with Bracebridge Public School Kindergarten class.
“We all learned that puppetry is hard,” said BMLSS music teacher, Leanne Edwards. “We had to work as a team behind the curtain to all fit on the screen together. We had to focus, listen, and respond to each other. Most of all, we learned patience and perseverance because we had to film scenes over and over again.”
