Education Outreach Opportunities

A Childsplay experience may be created to meet the individual needs of your classroom or school. They may be any length, from one-day workshops to multi-week sessions. Our outreach programs are led by 1 or 2 Childsplay teaching artists who, along with being dynamic and imaginative artists, meet the Childsplay "certification" expectations of excellence in teaching. The "certification" which is acquired through experience, familiarity with child development, use of AZ curriculum and standards, and extensive training in theatre, insures that these teaching artists will provide a journey inclusive of both academic and artistic learning for your students.
Below are samples of the different opportunities we offer:

Deconstruction Zone
A "collision" with and deconstruction of Shakespeare and other great works resulting in an original performance featuring a new interpretation of the original piece of literature.
• Script analysis
• Movement
• Poetry
• Music applications and interpretations
• Improvisation and group work
• Playwriting
• Exploration of language
• Acting skills

Page to Stage
Literacy and Theatre (may correspond with our tour and mainstage book- based productions)
• Reading
• Comprehension
• Formal elements of literature
• Script work
• Formal elements of theatre

The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg
Writing and Drama – improvisational story building using the pictures as captions as prompts
• Observation (Ideas and Content)
• Detailed description
• Inference
• Prediction
• Story development (Plot/organization)
• Creative drama
• Character development (Voice/word choice)

Footprints
Arizona History and Drama
• History - Arizonans who have made lasting contributions
• Oral history/storytelling
• Researching Arizona's history
• Story/script development
• Personal Testimonies-what footprints will you leave behind?
• Character development

Yesterday/Today/Tomorrow
Rite of Passage and Playwriting
• Reflections on each individual's past through writing prompts
• "I Am" poems
• Exploration of current and future role in the world
• Script work through group and individual writing

Individualized Residency
Residency content and structure will be developed to meet the specific goals and needs for each classroom and age group. Drama may be used as a tool for exploration of and deeper engagement with curricular content or the residency may focus solely on drama as an art form.
Sample curricular connections:
Literature – book /story comprehension
Vocabulary – demonstration of word meaning and use through drama improvisation
History – using drama to explore the people and issues involved in moments of history
Science – using drama to explore ecosystems; plate tectonics; planets and space

Drama as focus of residency explores:
• Acting skills
• Formal elements of drama (plot, character, thought, dialogue,etc)
• Improvisation skills
• Scene work (improve and script)
• Listening • Problem solving
• Cooperation/collaboration
• Empathy • Spontaneity/flexibility

Professional Development for Teachers
Goal: to give teachers additional creative, teaching tools
Can be offered in tandem with residencies or on their own:
• In-services (early release days or after-school)
• Weekend workshops
• Summer Institutes
• Job embedded (in their classroom during the school day) arts integration MODEL

Tour Company Residencies
Our company of actors may proceed or following their performance in your school with drama activities in your classrooms.
• Enhance and extend the performance experience
• Connect the theme of the performance to curricular content
• Students learn acting skills from professional actors
• Learn how a theatre production is created

After-School Programs
• Curriculum related themes ex: Magic School Bus plus Magic Treehouse (science & literature)
• Musical Theatre, Jr.
• Devised Theatre Work (creating work improvisationally with the students)
• Story Dramatization
• Acting class
• Informal play production
Often paid for through 21st Century funding, school tax credit revenue, AZ Commission on the Arts

Community Workshops
Pre/Post performance family workshops at the Campus of Imagination and Wonder
Girl/Boy Scout workshops
Birthday party workshops

Cost
All Outreach budgets are based on the Arizona Commission on the Arts Hourly Rate of $50 per artist per hour. Other considerations when creating a budget: Mileage, curriculum planning time, supplies, administrative fee