Puppet Show at Oman Elementary School
December 17, 2008
Three classes of grade 1 and 2 students at Oman Elementary School were entertained by visitors from the Swift Current Library on Wednesday, Dec. 17. A very well behaved and attentive audience, they listened to three seasonal poems read by Margaret Lottridge. The two nonsense poems, Exploding Gravy and Snowflake Souffle, brought some giggles from the group and Robert Frost’s classic Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening was one child’s favourite – “I like that one best”.
Manisha Khetarpul then introduced Tekeyla Friday who has extensive training in theatre arts and is also a prolific writer of puppet scripts. Tekeyla began her program with a fingerplay, Mr. Wiggle and Mr. Waggle, which was recently taught at a storytelling workshop by Kevin Mackenzie at the library. It was action-filled drama as the children followed along miming Tekeyla’s thumb and hand moves as fast as they could. Mr. Wiggle’s bump off the toboggan and Mr. Waggle’s run in with a tree were the best part. They loved it.
The puppet show, Mr Johnny-cake followed with Manisha and Tekeyla as puppeteers. Sitting in the back row of Oman’s library I could hear the dialogue very clearly and took note of the good arm positions of both puppeteers throughout. The action of the story was most entertaining as well as the voice and pitch changes. Manisha and Tekeyla enjoyed their puppets as much as the children and it was reflected in their showmanship. The play, Santa has a Cold, had some minor script changes since the last time it was performed at the REM Christmas party. Each time it is performed the story gets better. Once again the audience became engaged in the plot-telling Santa repeatedly that medicine will help him to get better. Mrs. Claus took his tips to heart and added her own advice-chicken soup.
It was a delightful morning that was well received by teachers and students at Oman.
A handout was given to all the students inviting them to the Swift Current Library for the January Reading Workshop co-ordinated by Tekeyla Friday.
P.S. I saw on Oman student on a school bus this morning showing another student a fingerplay.

Weaver
Margaret Lottridge

I learned

I learned to tell two stories - Bear & Chipmuk and Gunniwolf. I also learned about Mr.Wiggle and Waggle. I memorized a few finger rhymes---worms going up and worms going down. I enjoyed watching other participants and listening to their stories. It was so relaxing and it was fun to learn a few tricks.


Manisha

Quotations from those who attended

"It was an awesome workshop. I like the storytelling technique and the fingerplays. It was an engaging workshop full of advice and fun. The best part was Mr. Wiggle and Mr. Waggle and learning to take then out of their own adventures." - Tekeyla

"I really enjoyed hearing about other people’s memories. It was fun doing the fingerplays with new people. I really liked learning new stories to tell. I learned that you are supposed to be yourself and have fun when you are telling a story. I liked the Grandfather Bear story the best." - Kyle

"Very informative and fun. I was able to learn how to 'go with the flow' and be yourself. Mr. and Mrs. Wiggles was a learning experience in listening and also expressing yourself. Kevin was very descriptive and very easy to listen to – he made the afternoon very enjoyable. Thank you." - Lorraine

"For three hours thirteen participants laughed and learned to share the gift of telling stories that engage, entertain, and educate audiences young and old. Kevin Mackenzie has traveled with his stories over the continents and acquired many more along the way. He spoke about the thread of continuity that runs through stories on similar themes. A Russian bear and chipmunk traditional tale was also told in Shilaula, where there are no bears and chipmunks.
Grandmothers, storytellers, and daycare workers learned new fingerplays that help children to participate through action and memory. Fingerplays serve to anchor the learning experience in the body with humour and fun. They are links in a series of stories that allow audiences to stand, stretch, and then settle again for another story.
A wonderful session. Thank you, Kevin." - Margaret

"Kids really like to be told stories. This workshop was valuable to me because it gave me three new stories to learn and tell. In addition, I had lots of fun and realized it’s really true that if I am having fun the audience will have fun too.
I also learned the story of Mr. Wiggle and Mr. Waggle and can use this in a lot of ways for storytime.
I realized it takes practice to learn the stories but they stay in your mind like a memory – as Kevin said.
Was very worthwhile attending the workshop. His exercise of having us each tell a story helped to make us feel more comfortable with each other and we learned something about each other too." - Linda