TheaterworksUSApresentsDragonsLoveTacosandOtherStories

StudyGuideForTeacherClassroomUse

Performance:February1,2018at10amand12:15pm,

ThisprogramismadepossiblethroughthesupportofAdvocateMedicalGroup,theFogliaFamilyFoundation,NICORandComEd

ThisprograminconjunctionwiththisstudyguidesupportsthefollowingCommonCoreStandards:

RL.K-5.2,RL.K-5.3,RL.K-5.5,RL.K-5.6,RL.K-5.6,RL.K-5.7,RL.K-5.9RI.K-5.2,RI.K-5.3W.K-5.3,W.K-5.7SL.K-5.2,SL.K-5.4

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WelcometotheTheatre!

DearTeachers,WelcometoTheatreworksUSAandourproductionofDragonsLoveTacos&OtherStories!Thisguidewascreatedtohelpbothyouandyourstudentslearnabouttheplay,aswellasprovideopportunitiesforclassroomenrichmentandcurriculumconnections.Atriptothetheatreisalwaysanexcitingone–onethatcancreatelife-lastingmemories,liketheoneswehopeyouandyourstudentswillleavewithafterseeingourshow!Youmaywanttoreviewsomebasictheatreetiquettewithyourstudents,asthismightbemanyoftheirfirsttheatreexperiences.Talkingorbeingdisruptiveduringtheperformanceisdistractingtotheactorsandfellowaudiencemembers.However,wehighlyencourageclapping,laughing,andcheeringatthepartstheyenjoy.Feelfreetousethisguideasastartingpointforyouandyourstudentstoexploretheplay.(Anddon’tforget,it’sokayforyoutohavejustasmuchfunasyourstudentsdo!).Sitback,relax,andenjoytheshow!

DearStudents,Welcometothetheatre!WeareveryexcitedforyoutojoinusforTheatreworksUSA’sproductionofDragonsLoveTacos&OtherStories!Whatmakestheatredifferentfromotheractivitiesisthatthereareliveactorsonstagewithnowallbetweenyouandthem,whichmeansyouplayapartintheshow.Youmaygetreallyexcitedduringashowandwanttoclaporcheerandmakealotofnoise!Wewantyoutohaveasmuchfunaspossiblesofeelfreetodothesethingsafterasongorlaughwhensomethingisfunny,butsavetalkingtoyourfriendsuntilaftertheshow!Agoodaudiencememberalsomakessurethattheircellphoneandanythingthatmakesnoiseisturnedoff.Makesurethegrownupsittingnearyoudoesthesame!Mostofall,wewantyoutohavefun!Thetheatreisamagicalplacewhereanythingcanhappenaslongasyoubelieveitcan.So,sitback,relax,andenjoytheshow!

- YourfriendsatTheatreworksUSA

FromthePagetotheStage:ALookatAdaptation

DragonsLoveTacos&OtherStoriesisamusicalbasedonseveralfavoritechildren’sbooks:InterruptingChicken,DragonsLoveTacos,CowgirlKateandCocoa:SchoolDays,MercyWatsonGoesforaRide,andTheDot.Inanadaptation,aplaywrightandsongwritertakethethemes,characters,andmajorplotpointsofabookandfindsanewwaytotellthestory.Whenadaptingallofthesebooks,eachwritingteamturnedtheirbookintoamini-musical.InterruptingChickenconnectsallofthestoriestogether.Asyou’llseeintheshow,Chickenreadsandinterruptsfamousfairytales,soPapaChickendecidestoreadhernewbooksthatshedoesn’tknowyet.SomeFamousAdaptations:

HarryPottermoviesarebasedonthebooksbyJ.K.Rowling

TheWizardofOzfilmisbasedonthebooksbyL.FrankBaum

Disney’s’TheLittleMermaidisbasedonanoriginalstorybyHansChristianAnderson

InterruptingChickenBasedonthebookbyDavidEzraStein

AdaptedbyBrianLowdermilk&MarcusStevensWhatisthestoryabout?It’sbedtimeforChicken.PapaChickenisgoingtoreadherastory,butChickencan’thelpinterrupting.WillChickenevergettosleep?

ThemesLearningbyRepetition,Manners,Storytelling

Post-showQuestionsHaveyoueverinterruptedsomebody?Haveyoueverbeeninterrupted?Ifso,howdidthatmakeyoufeel?Whyisitimportanttobepolite?

CurriculumConnections&ActivitiesLITERACYHaveeachstudenttellafamiliarstory(likeafairytaleorfable)outloudinclassandhavetheotherstudentstaketurnsinterruptingthem.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.4COUNTINGReadInterruptingChickenoutloudandhavestudentscountthenumberoftimesChickeninterruptsPapa.CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.CC.B.4.CLIST-MAKINGChickentellsPapaallofthethingsshedidtopreparetogotobed.Makealistofthethingsyouneedtodobeforeyougotobed.CurriculumConnections&ActivitiesSTORYTELLINGChickeninterruptsthestoriesshelovestochangetheendingto.HowwouldyouchangetheendingtosomeotherfamousstorieslikeHansel&GretelandLittleRedRidingHood?

ChickenFact!Chickenscluckaftertheylayanegg.

DragonsLoveTacosBasedonthebookbyAdamRubin

IllustratedbyDanielSalmieriAdaptedbyJoeKinosian&MarcusStevens

Whatisthestoryabout?DragonsLoveallsortsoftacos–exceptspicyones!Whenaboythrowshisnewdragonfriendsaspicysalsatacoparty,red-hottroubleensures.

ThemesListening,Teamwork,Brothers&Sisters

Post-showQuestionsHaveyoueverdonesomethingeventhoughsomeonetoldyouitwasn’tagoodidea?Whydoesn’tBillylistentoSophia?WhatdidBillylearnsafterthedragonsburnthishousedown?

CurriculumConnections&ActivitiesIFDRAGONS…CauseandEffect.Discusswithyourstudents“IfDragonseattacos,thenthey…”“IfBillydoesn’tlistentohissisterSophia,then…”CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.3REBUILDWhenthedragonsburndownthehousetheyhavetorebuildit!Haveyourstudentsuseshapestodrawyourown“blueprints”forahouse.Blueprintsarethedrawingsthataworkerusestobuildthings.CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.G.A.2RECIPEFOLLOWINGIntheclassroomorathome,usetherecipeonthefollowingpagetocreateyourownsalsaforyourclassroomtacoparty!

Let’sTaco‘boutit!Dragonsaremythologicalcreaturesfoundinartwork,storiesandlegends.

NOT-TOO-SPICYSALSARECIPE**PerfectforDragonTacoParties

INGREDIENTS

- 10-11Mediumtomatoes- ½Largewhiteonion- 1Bushelfreshcilantro- ½teaspoongroundredpepper- ¾teaspoonseasalt- ½cuplimejuice

INSTRUCTIONS1. Cutthetomatoesinhalf2. Removetheseeds3. Cutthetomatoesintoverysmallcubes4. Cuttheonionandcilantrointoverysmallcubes5. Addalloftheabovetogetherinalargebowlwithatightlid6. Addsaltredpepperandlimejuice7. Mixwell8. Placeallingredientsinabowlwithatightlidandplaceinrefrigeratorfor2hours9. Serveandenjoy!

Students:Thisactivityisforyoutodowithyourparentsorteachers!

CowgirlKate&Cocoa:SchoolDaysBasedonthebookbyEricaSilverman

PaintedbyBetsyLewinAdaptedbyMarkSonnenblick&BenWexler

Whatisthestoryabout?KateandherhorseCocoadoeverythingtogether–Butwhenit’stimeforKatetogobacktoschool,Cocoaisworriedshe’llforgetabouthim.

ThemesFriendship,Listening,School

Post-showQuestionsWhydoesn’tCocoahearKatetellinghimthatshe’sgoingtoschool?WhodoesCocoathinkkidnappedKate?Doyouhavefriendsthatyoudosomeactivitieswith,butnotothers?Isitnicetoleaveoutsomefriendswhenyouhangoutwithothers?

CurriculumConnections&ActivitiesSHOWANDTELLKatetalksaboutallthefunthingsshedidonhersummerbreakwithherhorse,Cocoa.Eachstudentshouldbringinsomethingfromtheirsummerbreakandtalkaboutit.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.1.A,CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.4RESEARCHKatedoesaprojectaboutherhorse,Cocoa.Studentscanusetheirresearchandcomputerskillstocreatetheirownshortpresentationabouttheirpetsorfavoriteanimals.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.5

HorseFact!Horsescansleepbothlyingdownandstandingup!

MercyWatsonGoesforaRideBasedonthebookbyKateDiCamillo

IllustratedbyChrisVanDusenAdaptedbyJanetAllard&BrendanMilburn

Whatisthestoryabout?MercyWatson,abelovedpig,desperatelywantstodriveacar.Whenshefinallygetsbehindthewheel–chaosensues!

ThemesFollowingyourdreams,Importanceofrules

Post-showQuestionsWhydoyouthinkMr.Watsondidn’twantMercydriving?Haveyoueverreallywantedtodosomethingeventhoughyouweren’tquitereadyorsupposedtodoit?EventhoughMercydidn’tgetintotoomuchtroublefromthepoliceofficer,doyouthinkshelearnedherlesson?

CurriculumConnections&ActivitiesWHENPIGSFLYPigsdon’treallydrivecars.MakealistofpigfactsthatyouknowandanotherlistofwhatmakesMercydifferentfromarealpig.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.2.1

PigFact!Mr.WatsoncallsMercya“PorcineWonder.”Porcinemeansanythingthatlookslikeapig!

TheDotBasedonthebookbyPeterH.Reynolds

AdaptedbySamSalmond

Whatisthestoryabout?Vashtican’tdraw.Orsoshethinks.Anentireworldofpossibilitiesopensupaftershesimplydrawsadot.

ThemesArt,Creativity,Facingyourfears

Post-showQuestionsHasthereeverbeensomethingyoudidn’tthinkyouweregoodat?Didsomeonehelpyougetbetter?Didyoutry?Didyoupractice?Howdoesitfeelwhenyou’reabletosucceedatsomethingyoudidn’tthinkyoucoulddo?Vashtiwasscaredtodrawbecauseshedidn’tthinkherdrawingwouldbeanygood.Howdoyouthinkshefeltaftershetried?

CurriculumConnections&ActivitiesDOTS&SHAPESVashtipaintsdots,whichareherversionofcircles.Haveyourclasscomeupwithothershapes.Howcanyousplitthoseshapesupifyouwantedtosharethemwithone,two,orthreemorepeople?Askthestudentstodrawshapesontheboardandthendrawlineswithintheminordertodividethemup.CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.G.A.3FRAMEYOURARTOnthenextpage,haveyourstudentsusearulertomeasureeachsideofthegoldframe.Howlongiseachside?Whenthey’redone,grabapenandeveryonecanmaketheirowndot!CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.MD.A.1

MakeYourMark!Visitthedotclub.comtolearnaboutwaystocelebratecreativityinyourclassroom!

MAKEYOURMARK!

WhatDoYouRemember?

1. Dragonscan’teatspicysalsabecause_______.a. ittastesfunny.b. theycan’teatredthings.c. itgivesthemtummytroubles.d. thechefdidn’twashhishands.

2. Cocoadoesn’thearKatetellhimshe’sgoingtoschoolbecausehesees______.a. arabbitb. anapplec. abusd. acowgirl

3. AfterMercygetstodrivethecar,shewantstobethefirstpigto______.a. flyahotairballoonb. bakeacakec. runformayord. buildacastle

4. Vashtidiscoversthatbluecombinedwithyellowmakes______.a. brownb. purplec. greend. amess

Pre-ShowQuestions

1. Compareit!Beforetheperformance,readthestoriesintheshow.Aftertheperformance,compareandcontrastthecharacters,settings,andeventsineachversion.Whatpartsofthedifferentstoriesareimportanttoremember?

2. Whatareotheradaptationsyoucanthinkofbesideswhatislistedinthestudyguide?Doyouhaveafavoritebookthatyou’dliketoseecometolifeonstage?Whichone?

3. Discussthedifferentcharactersafteryoureadthebook.Describehoweachmayspeak,moveorlook.

4. Havethestudentsseenanyshowsthatwerebasedonbooksorstoriesbefore?Whataboutmovies?Howdotheyexpectthisshowtobedifferentfromwhattheyhaveseeninthepast?Howdotheyexpecttheshowtobedifferentfromthebooks?

5. Havethestudentsdraworwritepredictionsonwhattheythinktheywillseebasedonwhattheyreadinthestudyguide,pictures,andhistory.Aftertheshow,lookatthepredictionsandseewhowascorrect.

6. Havethestudentsresearchstorytellinginothercountriesorhistory.HowisitdifferentorsimilartoAmericanfolktalesandfables?Thiscanbearesearchpaper,projectorjustahomeworkassignment.Havethempresentwhattheyfoundtotheclass.

7. Sincethemainthemeoftheplaychangeswitheachshow,haveaclassdiscussiononthetopicofeach.Havethestudentsthinkofamoraloralessonthattheywouldwanttoteachsomeoneandwritetheirownfable.Havethemgoastepfurtherandillustratethestory.Havethempresenttotheclassexplainingwhytheytoldthestoryinthewaytheydid.Discusstheotherthemesinthebook–actionsandconsequencesandresponsibility.Havetheyeverfeltlikeanyofthemaincharactershave?Howdidtheyreact?

8. Havethestudentsreadanotherbookorwatchamovie.Whataresomecommonthemesofthestory?Whatisthemainthemeofthestory?Arethereotherstoriestheycanthinkofthathavethesametheme?Considerusingotherfolktalesandfablestoillustratethispoint:Greekmythology,fables,Americanfolktales,etc.Whataresomeotherfamousstories?Wasthelessonthesameineachstory?

9. Havethestudentsresearchotherstories.Howarethestoriessimilartothestoryinthisshow(themes,characters,setting,etc.)?Howaretheydifferent?Eveniftheyhaven’treadthestories,isthereanythingthattheycantellfromthedescriptionorevenpicturesthataresimilartothestoryintheshow?

10. Whenthestudentsattendtheperformance,listentothemusicthroughouttheshow.Didallofthemusicyouheardhavelyricstoit?Didyousometimeshearmusicwhentheactorsweretalkingbutnotsinging?Didthemusicandlyricshelptellthestory?Didthemusichelpconveydifferentemotions?

11. Intheplay,actorshavetoactlikethecharacterstheyareplaying.Haveyourstudentspickananimaltoresearchandthenportraythroughphysicalaction.Eachstudentwilllearnaboutaparticularanimal’sbehaviorandtraitsthroughresearchinbooksoronline.Thestudentscanthencreateaposterwiththeirresearchfactsandapictureoftheanimal.Withoutrevealingtheirsubject,havethestudentstaketurnsactingastheiranimalwhiletheclasstriestoguesswhatitis.

Post-ShowDiscussion(Someofthesearegoodtodiscusswithyourstudentswhileyouwaitforyourbustoarriveatthetheatreaftertheshow!)

1. Haveeachstudentcomeupwithoneortwooftheirfavoritepartsoftheshow.Whatwastheirleastfavoritepart?

2. Comparetheshowtheyjustsawwithothertheatreshowsormoviesthey’veseen.Howaretheydifferent?Howaretheysimilar?

3. Whatisthedifferencebetweenabookandtheplaythey’vejustseen?Aretheresimilaraspectsineachoraretheycompletelydifferent?

4. Dothestudentsthinktheycouldwriteaplaybasedontheirlives?Havethestudentswriteastorythatcouldbeturnedintoaplay.Maybeincludetheirfavoriteday,vacationthey’vetaken,schoolorfriendadventures.Toexpandonthisactivity,havethestudentswriteasceneoftheirplay.Gotothelibraryandlookattheformatofaplayincludingstagedirections,dialogueandscenedescription.Havethestudentsperformtheirscenefortheclass.Iftheycan’tcomeupwithsomethingontheirownlives,havethemwritesomethingforanotherstory.

5. Writeajournalentryabouttheplay.Includefavoriteorleastfavoriteparts.Scenesortimesintheshowthatstudentsrelatedtoinsomeway.Havetheyeverfeltlikeanyofthecharactersinthestories?Weretherethingstheywoulddodifferentlyiftheywereinthatcharacter’sshoes?

6. Havethestudentspretendyouareareporterforanewspaperandwriteareviewoftheplaytheyhavejustseen.

7. Havethestudentsreadthesynopsisandbackgroundinformation.Whatarethecommonthemes?Whatisthemainthemeoftheplay?Aftertheshow,havethestudentsrecallwhattheyreadaboutthestorybeforetheycametotheshow.Doestheirideaofthethemechangeafterseeingtheshow?Howiswhattheysawdifferent/similartowhattheyread?Didtheplayusespecificwordsordescriptionstoaddtothestoryorcreatethemoodofthestory?Usespecificexamples.

8. Havethestudentspickouttheirfavoritepartofthestoryanddescribeitindetailfromtheperspectiveofthemaincharacterinthescene.Havethemrewritethestoryfromanothercharacter’sperspective(i.e.fromMercy’stoMr.Watson’s).Didthatchangethestoryatall?How?Howiseachstorytold—firstpersonorthirdpersonperspective?Havethestudentsrewriteitonemoretimefromtheirownperspectiveasanaudiencemember.

9. Howdoeseachcharacterbecomeaheroineachstory?Explaintheideaofcauseandeffectandactionsandconsequencesusingtheactionsofthecharactersinthestory.

10.Havethestudentschoosetheirfavoritecharacterintheplay.Howaretheyimportanttothestory?Whataretheylike?

11.Animportantaspectoftheshowisthemusicchosen.Howismusicusedinsettingthemood?Whatkindofmusicisplayedforthehappyparts?Thesadparts?Tellthestudentstolistenformusicthatsetsthemoodthenexttimetheyseeamovieoratelevisionshow.Doyouthinkthesongsareintentionallychosenorjustbecausethedirectorlikedthesongs?

12.Reviewthemoralofthestoryanddiscusswhathappenedtothecharacterstoshowthemoral(whatbadthinghappenedthatmadethemlearnthelesson).Howmightyouapplythislessontoyourlife?

13.Arethereotherwaysthestudentscanthinkoftotellthestories?Play,storyboards,etc.Havethemtrytellingastoryusingthatmedium.

14.Therearemanypoemsthatarewrittenfromstoriesandfables.Presentpoemsonthefablestotheclassandhaveadiscussiononthedifferencebetweenapoem,aplayandastory.

15.Howdidtheplaymakethechildrenfeel?Talkabouthowtheactorsassumedifferentroles(characters)andhowaplayisdifferentfromamovie.Askthechildrenwhattheythinkhappenedinthelivesofthecharactersaftertheactionoftheplay.

16. Havethestudentschoosetheirfavoritecharacterintheplay.Howaretheyimportanttothestory?Whataretheylike?Dothemannerismsoractionscoincidewiththecharactertheywere?