Special Days and Their Observance: September 1919Anonymous
History
Special Days and Their Observance: September 1919
Anonymous
Holidays -- United States; Schools -- Exercises and recreations -- New Jersey
Older children are interested in the simple dramatizations of the
little folks and should have opportunity to see them often, not alone
to be entertained, but to be reminded of the simple and easy ways of
"playing you are someone else." A grammar grade class may learn many
things from watching a primary class dramatize "Three Bears," "Little
Red Hen," or "Little Red Ridinghood."
The simple dramatization in the schoolroom furnish excellent material
for general assemblies or morning exercises. Simple costumes and stage
settings satisfy the children, and the setting of the stage or platform
for the scene should, in most cases, be done before the children.
Children who see the table set, the chairs placed, and the beds
prepared for the "Three Bears" know how to get ready for their play
when they are called upon to contribute their part for the assembly.
Children will bring material for their costumes and stage furnishings
from home and should be encouraged to do so. Parents will come to see
children take part in a program when nothing else would attract them
to the school, and if the home is to be called upon to help the school
there must be a closer relationship between parents and teacher.
In preparing dramatizations for elementary school pupils but few scenes
should be chosen, and in those selected the language and action should
be simple and within the capabilities of the children.
The following dramatizations were worked out by teachers and pupils
of our building as class projects. They were presented in the opening
exercises as worth-while classroom projects which would be entertaining
and helpful to all pupils of the school, to teachers and to parents.
In presenting these scenes the pupils secured excellent practice in
oral English work, in dramatic action, and in community and group
cooperation. The pupils and teachers who made up the audience enjoyed
opening exercises in which there was purpose. All entered into the
spirit of the play; all enjoyed the exercises without having to think
why. The results have been better team work between teacher and pupils,
better school spirit, more pupil participation in leadership activities.
The History of Cotton
_Prepared by Bessie O'Hagen, Teacher of Fourth Grade, Bangs Avenue
School, Asbury Park_
_Characters_: Spirit of Cotton, Little Girl, Maiden from India, Maiden
from Egypt, Maiden from America, Spirit of Eli Whitney.
_Little Girl_ (_coming into the room in bad humor_). I hate this old
cotton dress. I wish I had a silk one. I don't see why we have to use
cotton anyway. We have to have cotton dresses, cotton sheets, cotton
stockings, cotton everything. I just hate cotton! I'm not going out to
play or anything. (_Finally sits down._) I am so tired. I wish I had a
silk dress. I hate this cotton dress. (_Falls asleep._)
_Spirit of Cotton_ (_skipping into the room_). Heigh ho! Ho heigh! Here
am I, the Spirit of Cotton. I heard what you said, little girl. Did you
ever see cotton grow?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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