My students need a pumpkin coach for our production of Cinderella. Therefore, we need a lot of orange fabric, velcro and glue sticks. Younger kids need patriotic music.
$385 goal
Hooray! This project is fully funded
Hooray! This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
How can you do Cinderella without a pumpkin coach? Ms Morganstern, "how will you make the coach?" I've been asked this question many, many times by so many kids since we began this Cinderella journey. Now, I am going to figure it out so I can finally answer all of them.
I have taught dance and theater at PS 310 for over 30 years.
I love the energy and enthusiasm my students bring to the classroom. This is a high poverty school, with many students coming from immigrant families trying hard to make a better life for their children. The kids are eager to learn, but most have not had access to experiences other than those found right in the neighborhood. None has been to see live theater, even though they live in NYC, only a few miles from Broadway. I believe every child dreams of being a star. I believe that every child has talent and the urge to perform. Although some might be shy, and others outgoing, everyone wants to shine. All love to be up on the stage, frightened and exhilarated and the center of everyone's attention (especially their own family). I try to nurture this urge. In September each year I make a pledge to have every child in the school perform in front of an audience before the year is over.
My Project
Therefore, my students do a lot of performances. They all like to show off! Every grade has its own time to showcase the student's talents. Right now the younger kids, Ks and first graders need extra patriotic music for their show about the United States.
The older kids are hard at work on Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella. In the past, we had a wonderful staff member construct our scenery, but he has left the school. I needed to figure out a way to construct a pumpkin coach. My students and I brainstormed many ideas. We decided to make a frame from cut up hula hoops. This I will attach to a rolling cart and a stool. I plan on weaving orange fabric between the hula hoop ribs with Velcro and/or hot glue. I am hoping this will create a sphere. Next we need to figure out a way for Cinderella to sit inside and for it to move across the stage. I will be doing the physical work, while the kids come up with the ideas to make it work. This is truly a work in progress!
Over the years, I have found that being involved with the show has helped motivate students in a multitude of ways, from improving self-esteem to improving attendance.
Just seeing the joy on their faces at the end and the pride they get from their accomplishments is worth all the effort. Therefore, any help that you could give my students would be very gratefully appreciated. Thank you for your consideration.
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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. Morganstern and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
