Published Wednesday, April 30, 2008 11:11 AM
Updated Wednesday, April 30, 2008 11:12 AM

 

Boulder Bluff enjoys puppet show

Nine first grade classes at Boulder Bluff Elementary experienced a mix of art and academics when music teacher Cindy Brewer and local artist in residence Jena Bean recently brought to life the children’s story “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak through puppetry and music.

The children learned how to play instruments and correlate their music with the story. They also created big-headed puppets with paper mache to use in their production next week.

The students also created smaller puppets made from clay and stages to have their own production at home. Bean, a Summerville native and member of the Artist Roster of the SC Art Commission in Columbia, got the idea by trying to communicate with her own children. She made puppets of their family and tried to connect with each other through them.

“It’s important for children to integrate the arts with the curriculum,” says Brewer. The curriculum she speaks of comes from the ABC grant that deals with school art programs.

The play allows the student to put his or herself in the place of Max, the main character in the story, which broadens the child’s imagination.

Brewer believes “art and music make subjects come alive.” It’s worth the work if it helps students to make connections with what they’re learning.