THE THREE GREEN PIGS

Objectives:

  • Children will learn the 6 Rs: Recycle, Reuse, Reduce, Repair, Respect, Responsibility
  • Children will learn how to conserve energy
  • Children will be able to name natural resources
  • Children will be able to list ways of conserving electricity and water
  • Children will learn to how to choose to conserve energy and natural resources as a result of experiencing a dramatic theatrepresentation using puppets

“THE THREE GREEN PIGS”

No matter what Mrs. Pig does, she can’t get her boys to learn

the 6 Rs: Recycle, Reuse, Reduce, Repair, Respect & Responsibility.

They leave the lights on! They litter the ground with glass and plastic bottles and aluminum cans! The only way they can learn about recycling, reducing and reusing is by sending them out to learn from her friend, Bernard, the Big Good Wolf, the local recycling repair man, where they will learn respect and responsibility for their environment and community.

For PreK-6th grade.

Suggested Pre-Show Discussion Topics

  1. What are “natural resources?” Name some natural resources. (water, trees, gas, etc.)
  2. What are “energy sources?” Name some energy resources. (sun, water, wind, etc.)
  3. Ask the children: what is a water shortage? Ask them how the water might have been used up or wasted. How can people save or “conserve” water?
  4. Ask the children: what is a gas shortage?Ask them how people might have used or wasted gasoline. How can people conserve gasoline?
  5. Remind children that occasionally there are electrical power failures during storms. Discuss what it is like to be without electricity.
  6. What would our lives be like without energy or natural resources?
  7. What is solar energy? How can it be used to “Save the World”?
  8. Summarize the importance of conservation at home and in school.
  9. What are some items that can be recycled?
  10. What are some items that can be reused?
  11. What things can you do to help reduce energy? (i.e. turn off lights when you leave a room)
  12. What items could you repair instead of buying a new item to replace it? (i.e. a bike tire)
  13. Discuss the nature of theatre production. How is a puppet play different from a live play? How is it the same?
  14. Discuss the basic elements of a story.

Pre-Show Activities

  1. Read a play or short story, having different students read each part aloud.
  2. Read books about puppetry and puppet theatre.
  3. Read books about conservation.

SPECIAL NOTE:Due to staging design, the puppeteers prefer to set up on the floor instead of a raised stage. They will need a cleared area of approximately 15 x 15 feet, and access to an electrical outlet. Students may be seated either on the floor, in chairs, or at tables.

Post-Show Discussion Questions

  1. What is a puppet? What kind of puppet did you see? (rod puppets)
  2. What other kinds of puppets have you seen? (finger, hand, shadow puppets, etc.)
  3. How did the Pigs waste electricity? What should they have done?
  4. How did the Pigs waste water? What should they have done?
  5. Did the Pigs learn a lesson? What was it?
  6. What can you do to help “Save the World”?
  7. How can picking up litter and recycling help our environment?

Post-Show Activities:

  1. List ways to save energy and water at home and in school (revisit the 6 Rs).
  2. Draw pictures about the ways we use electricity and water.
  3. Write a story about life without electricity and water.
  4. Create a crossword puzzle energy vocabulary.
  5. Research information on the internet for energy conservation tipsor request energy conservation pamphlets from your local power company.
  6. Write a letter or email yourlocal utility company requesting water conservation information
  7. Write and produce your own play (puppet or non-puppet) about nature and conservation.
  8. Write letters to the puppeteers telling them what you thought of the program.
  9. Write a story about what might happen if everyone threw their trash on the ground.

Teacher Activities:

  1. Organize a classroom or school-wide energy conservation art contest.
  2. Create a learning center in your classroom about energy conservation.
  3. Create a bulletin board display about energy conservation which might include some of the drawings or lists from the student post show activities.
  4. Take your students on a tour of a local power company, water company or recycling center.
  5. Invite spokespeople from your local utility companies or environmental organizations to come to your class and speak about conservation.
  6. Organize a “Pick-Up Litter” and recycling campaign at your school.

*Blue Sky Puppet Theatre*4301 Van Buren Street*University Park,*MD*20782*

*301-927-5599**