Renacting the Story of Martin Luther King

Let My People Go!

Today Julia used blocks to illustrate her telling of the Pesach story. Today's retelling focused on the part of the story when Moses asked King Pharoah to let the Jewish people leave Egypt. We then learned how to put on a play!

Nathan decided to create Pharoah's kingdom before the play.

Which lead to a rousing, participatory sing-along of "Let My People Go." with some children taking on the role of Moses and others taking on the role of Pharoah.

Jared, as Moses, is asking "Oh Listen, Oh listen, oh listen King Pharoah" acting out another of our favorite Passover songs "Oh Listen."

"No, No, No. I will not let them go." (though Micah appears to be considering it!)
We had some very passionate performances!

Take 3 -The Story of Purim!

The Thursday Lunch Bunch children wanted to make a mask to go with their crown! Then we decorated them, and put on a fantastic Purim Play! We invited the Kohavim children to come into our classroom to enjoy the show. Every time we heard Haman's name the Kohavim children shook their groggers!


Acting out the Purim story gives the children the opportunity to experience the
story of Purim/characters first hand. Try it at home with the whole family... it's a lot of fun!

Take Two...The Story of Purim

Lunch Bunch begins with a short meeting...We talk about our day, sometimes we read a book and we also use that time to plan curriculum with the children. Today I told them that the Tuesday Lunch Bunchers had a great time making costumes and then put on a Purim Play. I asked them if they liked that idea? Well, what do you think their response was? That is right...YES!!!!!

They could not wait to get started! First they decided who they wanted to be, then they made a crown or a triangular hat. The excitement/energy in the room was high! After Leo and Ryan made their costume they asked ,"Where is the castle/palace?" I suggested we build one on the stage. They liked that idea a lot. I then asked the children, "What could we make the castle/palace with?" A few of the children said, "The wooden blocks!" So, that is what they did and what a castle it was!

The Unicorn and Sunshine children joined us and helped set up the chairs around the stage. After a few announcements the show started. I was the narrator and Mordechai, Lilly K was Queen Vashti, Ryan was Haman, Eli S and Sarah were Queen Esther, Avram, Jake, Max and Leo were King Ahashverus. The show was really something to see and at the end of the performance, everyone took a bow! Purim is such a fun holiday!

We are Proud to Present the Tel Aviv Actors!

Last week Ezra brought in a very special book called Herman and Margerite: an earth story which is a story about the friendship between a worm and a caterpillar. Today we re-read the story but with a twist: we acted it out! Parts were chosen by choosing sticks. Eli was Herman and Dylan was Margerite and we had a forest of Ezra and Jacob trees filled with Molly and Lily deer. Max played the role of the wise grandpa worm and Hannah and Eliza were our dancing worms and played the role of the buzzing bees. Each child owned their role and said lines. I was impressed also how much the language of the story affected the body language of the children playing the characters. They make such great actors and actresses! For second circle we read Caps for Sale and the class immediately started acting it out! This class has a great love of acting and I’m excited to do more acting and storytelling as the year goes on!

Once Upon a Shabbos

Mary Ann read Once Upon A Shabbos with the Rainbow class today. The stick puppets that represent the characters in this story made a wonderful addition to the telling. The kids could repeat the lines of the characters they held and contribute to the storytelling themselves. It was delightful!

More Drama Stories in the All Star Classroom!

Josh could not wait to act out his drama story with his friends! There were quite a few children who wanted get up on the stage and act out Josh's story. We had two little goats, two medium goats, two big goats and four trolls! Wow! It was a tight squeeze up on the stage, but we worked it out! In case you were wondering what the name of Josh's drama story was..."The Three Billy Goats Gruff".

Avery's Drama Story!

Avery came over to me after we ate lunch and said, "Lauri I want to write a Drama Story!" I said, "Great go over to the Art Center and help yourself to some paper."
Ten minutes later he came over to me and said, I am ready to tell my story!"
Alison wrote down Avery's words and told him ,"Lauri will type it up, and we can make the costumes during peace out time on Thursday and then act it out together with friends." Avery said, "I want to act it out today and I don't need to make costumes." So that is what we did...And wow it was some show! The Unicorn and Sunshine Lunch Bunchers came down to the All Star room to watch Avery and his friends act out, "The Green Line". The show was so good the children acted it out twice, and asked the Unicorn and Sunshine children if they wanted to take on a part in the play, Lilly was a "Yellow Line" and Alana decided to be a "Green Line".

Today in Lunch Bunch we...

Lunch Bunch was action packed today! Everyone enjoyed chatting bit while eating lunch and sharing weekend stories with friends and teachers. Just as we finished eating Sandy, Jesse, and Avery noticed we had a visitor in our classroom...A tiny little ant. The children were taken in with our little friend! They watched the ant and followed it around the classroom. Then all of a sudden, Sandy became concerned about the ants safety, so she asked if we could let the ant outside. Sandy and a few friends took the ant outside and let it go.

All Stars thanks for being so gentle and kind to our little friend!

After "peace out time" was over Teddy F the author and illustrator of "Death of the Hole", put on his Story Drama with his friends. Unfortuately I left my camera at school today, but tomorrow I will add the photos our camera guy (Mr.Teddy Fox) took of Teddy's Story Drama. Trust me it's worth the wait!

Making Costumes for Drama Stories!

Last Wednesday we read Jay's Drama Story, before we sat down to have lunch. We also asked Jay and his friends to pick a role from the story Jay wrote ,to act out. After we decided on roles for the play, we brainstormed a bit about costumes. Jay had the lead role, as he was the main Vampire, he thought the Vampires should be in red and wear capes. I suggested at "Peace Out" time that they make their costumes. Then Mia and Jesse suggested we use face paint. I looked at Alison, and I asked "Did you go to face painting school?" Alison replied, "Yes Lauri ,how did you know?" In the photos below, check out Alison's face painting art!

Drama Stories!

The Vampire and The Sloth

Over there are the invisible people so you can't see them. This is a Vampire and this is his "killer machine" the mean, mean Sloth. The invisible people jumped from here and the Vampire said, "You are not going anywhere, I am going to kill you!" The Sloth jumped and killed the invisible people and then they came back to life. The Vampire made a bridge break in half, the bridge fell on the volcano and the volcano fired at them, and they were dead forever!" The End!

Jay, age 5

Drama Stories!

The Platform Story

The Vampires killed the Platforms and the Platforms tried to fight back! Then there was a blue Platform. Then the Hulks came and one of the Vampires turns into 100 Vampires. Then two of the Hulks turn into 1000 Hulks and the Hulks won!
The End!
Sam P,age 4


The children had a ball making costumes for Sam's story! We all brainstormed and came up with some great ideas on how to make a Hulk costume. We cut out green ovals and taped them on our bodies and then we created green masks! Those of us that did not make a costume in school brought home some materials to make a Vampire or Hulk costume. Then at the end of the day the Hulks and Vampires acted out Sam's story. Everyone had a great time! Thanks Sam!

Purim,Purim,Purim!

Check out these Purim characters!

Who Are These People??

Part of celebrating Purim is dressing up and partying. We are sure to see a lot of superheroes and princesses on the 17th but in our classroom alteregos are limited to Queens Vashti and Esther, King Ahasuerus, Mordechai, and Haman. After circle today the children ran to the art center to make their own masks of the Purim characters. We have realized that they need some help in figuring out what to say when they act out their own story dramas as well as the Megillah. This is a fun learning process for all of us as we become more skilled in our roles as actors, directors, coaches, and audience. We had some hecklers in the audience who needed guidance regarding appropriate audience behavior. Better now than when they see their first Broadway play!

Part One and Part Two The Panther!

Part One and Part Two The Panther
Written and Illustrated By Ruby

This is part one and the other side is part two. This is the Bad Guy(1) and this is the other Bad Guy(2). In part two is Panther but he just dressed up as a Panther. He is really a hero with yellow eyes. He is actually an avenger and avengers save the day!

Ruby, age 4
Starring....

• Ruby as Panther
• Sam as Bad Guy(1)
• Isaiah as Bad Guy(2)
• Teddy P as the Soldier

Photos by-Teddy Fox

Our Own Camera!

The children had a ball taking pictures on their own camera! Teddy Fox and Mia had fun taking pictures of everyone's "tushies." The giggling was infectious! They all posed and shouted out silly words, when their friends were taking pictures. Ruby's Drama Story was acted out in our second circle, and Teddy F volunteered to be the photographer. He took some great pictures!