Students create puppet theatre based on a study of Greek mythology.
Watching the Video
Before You Watch Respond to the following questions.
How does infusing theatre into the study of literature help middle school students learn?
What roles might an arts teacher play when a non-arts teacher has already integrated the arts into a lesson or unit of study?
How do non-arts teachers work to improve the art-making components of their lessons or units?
Watch the Program As you watch, keep track of the ways that Helen is integrating the arts into her study of Greek mythology. Jot down aspects of this project that strike you as particularly creative. Also note when and where Jennifer, the drama teacher, steps in to help.
Reflect on the Program
How did Helen stimulate and maintain students’ interest in Greek mythology?
What evidence did you see that students understood the myths in a deep or flexible way?
Which part of the unit you saw – creating the puppet characters, writing original scripts, or performing and polishing the plays – would be most challenging for you to accomplish?
What struck you most about Helen and Jennifer’s collaboration? What were the successful elements of this collaboration?
Before You Watch