2006-2007 Neighborhood Bridges Residency Program

(formerly the vittum learning partnership)

gladstone elementary school, 6th grade

Inquiry Question:

"How can I use visual art, music, and creative writing to explore narrative structure and adaptation?"

Gladstone School and Adventure Stage Chicago (then known as the Vittum Theater) partnered to analyze the narrative structure of fairy tales and devise original adaptations to a well-known tale. Ms. Hornof and Ms. Sarauw's sixth-grade classes attended ASC's prodution of The Ash Girl by Timberlake Wertenbaker. Students compared this adapted version of Cinderella to the traditional tale. To apply this understanding, students examined Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, brainstormed possibilities for adaptation, and created a timeline to outline the content. Throughout the residency, the ASC Teaching Artist and the two classroom teachers from Gladstone facilitated workshops that invited students to explore this content through theatre games and movement, visual art (storyboards and masks), musical fugues, instrumentation, playwriting, and improvisation.

"Positive Impressions"

“The performance certianly left a positive impression on the students about attending and appreciating live performances! They are also more likely to pursue the reading of plays and novels upon which plays are based. The entire experience was extremely worthwhile, leaving a lasting, motivating impact.”

- Mary Vujic / James Ward Elementary 6th, 7th, 8th Grades