Each year the fifth grade puts on a stage performance of art and music integration. Every year it is completely different but there is always a message, original art, and music written by the students. The inspiration for this year's performance is a story from the NorthWest First Nations tradition.
How the Loon Lost Her Voice is an origins tale that explains why things are the way they are. There are 6 main animal characters, evil spirits, and the theme of dark and light.
To accentuate the light and dark theme, the girls are telling the story with shadow puppets. They designed the puppets and crafted two sets - the animals in daylight and the animals in the darkness. They brainstormed ideas of how to tell the story with visuals, light, acting, music, and words.
Here they are making and testing their prototypes.
Here is a record of the leading discussion about the message of the story and how to convey the message with art elements.
After building mini models, they used the "real" materials to build the final versions.
