Great Lakes Theater Visits 4th Grade

Using an interactive, hands on approach, two trained actor-teachers worked for three days with 4th grade classes. The actors brought scripts, props, and costumes to turn the students into an acting troupe, exploring classic literature from an actor's point of view.

In addition to acting, students explored improvisation, nonverbal communication, and learned about the time period. Students also gained insight into how to respond to situations as an individual and as a contributing member of an ensemble. The actor-teachers quickly established the kind of rapport with students that made them feel safe to try something new.

“Part of the joy for me was watching a student who had been more reserved during the school year step up and volunteer to be a lead role in a scene,” said 4th Grade Teacher Diane Siska. “I knew my students had also felt a special connection to the experiential learning that had taken place when they said, ‘We should do this for one hour each and every school day!’”

After each daily session, questions were posed for reflection: Why do people sometimes go along with the crowd? Is it harder to be a leader or harder to be a follower? What is honor and how important is it? Who is honorable in your life?

The questions elicited genuine and thoughtful responses from the students as they passionately explained their ideas and viewpoints to peers and teachers. It also brought clarity to fourth grader Jacob Esposito who was one of the students who had portrayed Caesar in his final moments. “Oh, so that’s how I died!” Jacob said.

This is the third year the 4th grade has partnered with the Great Lakes Theater Company. “I hope it will be a long and lasting union,” said Siska.