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Rodeo Mongolia Brings Theatre to Every Classroom
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At the beginning of the 2007-08 school year, Hoffman Academy, in the Aldine Independent School District, embarked on a school-wide project that involved using the Arts in every classroom. Since theatre is a reflection of life, we decided to choose a play that could be referenced by every subject. We chose the children's musical, Rodeo Mongolia by Charles Pascoe.
Four hundred copies of the musical were ordered. Every teacher and student in the building read the play. Language Arts teachers used it to study the parts of a story. They discussed and explored symbolism in the play, and students wrote on a variety of topics. ESL students also illustrated vocabulary words from each scene. While studying biomes, science classes talked about the Gobi Desert, the setting for the play, and students were introduced to the Przewalski horse, the main character. Math classes examined the cost of adopting each of the different horses in the play with an emphasis on the cost of feeding and caring for them. In Rodeo Mongolia, malaria was mentioned, which sparked a school-wide interest in the Nothing but Nets program. This organization accepts donations to purchase mosquito nets for families in Africa in order to prevent the spread of malaria. Staff and students began collecting money for this cause. The Performing Theatre Class built the model for the set and, from the model, constructed the stables used in the play. Art students painted the set, and Industrial Technology students built the trough that was needed. The musical was performed as a play for the District One Act Play contest and won third place. Theatre Arts classes will read Rodeo Mongolia again and compose an original script for use in their unit, "The Steps to Playwriting". They will write prequels and sequels involving one of the characters from the play. In addition to all of this activity, the musical will be performed for all of the students in the school and an evening performance will be given for the parents, community partners and district officials.
This project was a wonderful way to utilize art in every classroom. Teachers and students alike had a common experience that could be discussed in every subject. This was an activity that we will repeat in years to come.
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Darrell McFarland
Theatre Arts Teacher
Hoffman Academy
Aldine I.S.D.
April 7, 2008
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