Learning & Development: Our bright idea - Putting on a performance

The children at Cockfield Primary School nursery class were motivated to become performers themselves after a visit to the Blue Sky Theatre performance of 'The Sun Has Got His Hat On' (www.blueskytheatre.com).

'The focus of the performance was musical tales and rhythms of the Caribbean, presenting an excellent opportunity to explore aspects of another culture,' says nursery teacher Judith Cowley.

'However, many of our children are very young and have never taken part in a nursery outing. To help allay the fears or anxieties some children feel when seeing puppets for the first time, we set up a puppet theatre before the visit so that they could explore puppets in familiar surroundings. We explained that the puppets they would see at the theatre would be just like their nursery puppets but operated by adults instead of children.'

Planned learning intentions

- To respond to significant experiences, showing a range of feelings when appropriate

- To listen with enjoyment and respond to stories, songs and other music, rhymes and poems, and make up their own stories, songs, rhymes and poems

To begin to know about their own cultures and beliefs and those of other people

- To use their imagination in art and design, music, dance, imaginative and role-play and stories

Resources

Puppet theatre (or improvise with a cardboard box); puppets; CD player, CDs, instruments and dressing-up clothes related to the theme of the theatre visit

Step by step

- We began by discussing our intended visit as we set up the puppet theatre with the children.

- We joined the children at play, initially to model how to manipulate the puppets. Staff and children took turns to be the audience while the others put on performances.

- As the theatre performance was to include tales and rhythms from the Caribbean we made sure that appropriate books, instruments, music and dressing-up clothes were available for the children to explore.

- The children really enjoyed their visit and responded with enthusiasm to the animal puppets. Our preparation activities ensured that no child was anxious or intimidated by the experience.

- On return to the nursery, the puppet theatre became a favourite activity. Performances were ongoing throughout the sessions.

- As the theatre performance had a carnival focus, many of the children began to dress up and dance in the clothes we had provided. We created a stage from thin drapes so that they could put on performances. Our snacks even had a Caribbean flavour!

- After a child's suggestion, a corner of the outdoor area became a theatre to put on 'open-air performances'.

- In future we plan to explore different cultures through stories, rhymes, and definitely puppets!

Activities

- Invite parents to a puppet or dance show.

- Make your own theatre from recycled boxes and explore puppet making from everyday items, such as socks and paper bags.

- Create a steel band sound with metal kitchen utensils.

Judith Cowley is the nursery teacher at Cockfield Primary School, County Durham.