Grade 5 Transforms Tales into Live Theatre

Fifth-grade students turned four timeless tales and illustrations of children’s author Leo Lionni into a heartwarming live performance and art show for their Kindergarten buddies along with PreSchool and PreKindergarten students.

Hosted in Swain Library, the storybook performance served as a cross-curricular event featuring performance theater, music, and art through the guidance of teachers Lisa Daly, Rachael Jungkeit, and Sue Bennett 1973.

“The stories of Leo Lioni are full of great meanings for both young and old,” said Mrs. Bennett and Mrs. Daly. “The ones performed today champion sharing, solidarity, mentoring, and friendship. The students really gravitated towards the themes and put on a wonderful performance.”

Dressed in all-black attire and interchanging costumes of colorful vests, the students rotated in groups between narrators and actors. The first story performed was Swimmy, which detailed the adventures of a fish named Swimmy who loves to explore the ocean, but finds himself in trouble as he encounters bigger fish who want to attack his friends. Through teamwork and problem solving, Swimmy teaches his new friends how to swim together. The second story, It's Mine, tells the tale of three selfish frogs who learn that sharing is caring with the help of a brown toad.

The third story, Cornelius, detailed the life of a crocodile named Cornelius who learns how to walk upright and other tricks - but his friends are not impressed. He walks away before turning back and seeing his friends trying his tricks. The final story, Frederick, told the story of a mouse who spends his summer days very differently from his family. Frederick gathers sun rays, colors, and words instead of wheat and straw. In the end, Frederick brings warmth to the family. The show concluded with a musical song performance with Mrs. Jungkeit on the piano.