Grades 2-5

Objectives:
To apply what the students learn from the Onstage and Behind the Scenes exhibit and to utilize those ideas and skills in an active way with emphasis on collaborative effort and teamwork.

To allow students to use their minds and bodies in a creative way that brings a story to life.

To foster good audience habits, including listening to others and showing respect.

Vocabulary:
Upstage
Improvisation
Downstage

Pre-visit Activities:
Familiarize the students with the story of Arthur's training with Merlin. Discuss the lessons learned from each animal Arthur becomes.

Discuss attributes of the deer, fox, duck, lion, dog, horse, crab, snail, beaver and turtle. Identify each animal's special qualities. What might a great king learn from them?

Museum Visit:
Students will review the Arthur story and the training provided by Merlin. Different animal attributes will be discussed.

Students will create and act out stories based on animals of their choice, incorporating costumes, sound and simple settings. Elements of the medieval period will also be incorporated.

Students will perform their group dramatizations and create one large theatrical piece.

Post Visit Activities:
Elaborate upon the stories created in the museum workshop by adding or subtracting characters and having a strong beginning, middle and end to your tale; act them out for each other.

Have students exchange parts and see how each person adds something new to a character. Remember, there is no right or wrong way to do it. Everyone brings their own uniqueness to the part.

Research other animals. Discuss the attributes of each new animal. Have students write a story about these animals and act them out for each other, or for other classrooms.

Make prop lists or costume drawings to enhance the stories. Talk about what music might be used given the time period.

Create a news program. Interview some of the characters from the play the class created. Don't forget the minor characters.

Book List:
The Once and Future King, by T. H. White
Young Arthur, by Robert D. San Souci
Arthur and the Sword, by Robert Sabuda
King Arthur, by Rosalind Kerven
The World of King Arthur and His Court, by Kevin Crossley-Holland

Web Sites:
www.kingarthursknights.com
www.kingarthurbooks.com