"I have been changed for good..." is my favorite quote from the Broadway Musical "Wicked," and it is my goal with this field trip to give my students an experience that will change them for good.
My students are 6th, 7th, and 8th graders who attend a middle school in an economically and racially diverse college town.
Many of them are on the free/reduced lunch program; several of them don't know where they'll sleep each night. Choir and Drama Club are both open to the entire population of our school, and the Drama Teacher and I work with anyone who is interested in the performing arts. Our students work hard and take ownership of their performances, and they long to see professional productions, but many families in our community could not afford the 150 mile trip or the tickets necessary to give their children this kind of experience.
My Project
Students in Choir and Drama Club will be given the opportunity to see the city of Chicago from a charter bus, have lunch by the giant Christmas Tree at the Walnut Room inside Macy's on State Street, and best of all - their wishes will come true as we embark on the magical journey through Oz with the characters in the Broadway Musical "Wicked."
The experience of live theatre is so very different from the other forms of entertainment offered to the students in our community.
In a society where learning empathy and making personal connections is a challenge, where poverty holds children back from achieving their full creative potential, I believe it is important to open their minds to the depth of interaction they can have through the Performing Arts. I hope you can help me make this possible for my students. Thank you so much!
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Martin and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.