WORKSHOP 2: TOY THEATER + HISTORY

In our second workshop with our 2nd graders at Clark Elementary, we made toy theaters and told the true story of Mauer's Bologna factory that used to exist in Hartford. 

This is the newspaper article that inspired the project.

We thought this story was a perfect choice, because it offered us a fantastic chance to talk about how stories can change over time as they pass from person to person, and can even become local mythology. In her version adapted for storytelling, Sarah reworked the Baloney Factory story into a poem and exaggerated all the facts a little. For example, every now and then when the bologna smell collected and became too heavy in the clouds, it would rain bologna on the city of Hartford.

The students worked in four teams of four or five to create backdrops and character puppets for the story.

                                                                  ORANGE TEAM!

Ms. Bus Driver, Mr. Townsperson, Mr. Judge, Ms. Perfume, Mr. Baloney

Scene 1: Hartford

Scene 2: Baloney Factory

Scene 3: The Court

Scene 4: The Improved Baloney Factory 

Scene 5: The Sky (filled with bologna rain)

                                                                   YELLOW TEAM!

Ms. Judge, Mr. Baloney, Mr. Townsperson, Mr. Perfume

Scene 1: Hartford

Scene 2: The Baloney Factory

Scene 3: The Court

Scene 4: The Improved Baloney Factory

                                                                    PURPLE TEAM!

Ms. Perfume, Ms. Baloney, Mr. Townsperson, Mr. Judge

Scene 1: Hartford

Scene 2: The Baloney Factory

Scene 3: The Court

Scene 4: The Improved Baloney Factory

RED TEAM!

Ms. Townsperson, Mr. Baloney, Mr. Perfume, Mr. Bus Driver, Mr. Judge

Scene 1: Hartford

Scene 2: The Baloney Factory

Scene 3: The Court

Scene 4: The Improved Baloney Factory

Scene 5: The Sky (with baloney rain)

Sarah and Nicole built four toy theaters for the kids to perform with, like this:

Then, with the help of other Puppet Arts students, the teams rehearsed the stories, came up with some good half-improvised dialogues for the scenes, and presented their work to the rest of the 2nd grade class. The kids were brilliant and came up with some great one-liners. We were very proud of all the hard work they put into their projects!!