The recent Dinosaur Show presented by our Omega class, our third graders' "Three Fractured Fairy Tales" and the sixth graders' Digital Universe space shows were far more than "entertaining shows" (although that they most definitely were). More importantly, these productions exhibited performances of understanding, built skills and confidence, and empowered the boys.
Our young Omega paleontologists revealed their knowledge of the dinosaur facts they discovered during their exploratory, interdisciplinary unit about the prehistoric animals. They entertained with dinosaur jokes:
What do you call a dinosaur ghost? A scare-a-dactal!, and they danced and sang their hearts out.
In "Three Fractured Fairy Tales" the third graders revealed the truth behind fairy tales we all
think we know so well:
Jack and the Beanstalk, The Big Bad Wolf and Three Little Pigs. The boys collaborated to cast, block, and create set pieces for the
production, and assumed all responsibility for setting and
striking the stage.
As our sixth graders delivered their visually arresting astronomy research presentations, they took all audience members on digital flights through the cosmos using Open Space astrovisualization software. Their original narratives, which they wrote and story boarded themselves, employed ethos, pathos, and logos, transforming what could potentially have been dry research into captivating stories that enthralled the viewer.
All three of these productions placed our boys front and center in demonstrating their learning and in executing the show. Boys were involved in every step of the process: choice of songs or research topic, determining how they would participate in the blocking and choreography, crafting and delivering reflection statements.
There were no adults on the stage during these performances. The teachers had been their guides, supporting, advising, and assisting in problem solving throughout the process. But it was our boys who owned the shows from start to finish, and they reveled in every minute.
