“Wild” storytelling at LOLPS

Jan 27, 2011

Photo: Kait Rainey-Strathy with the students at LOLPS

Students in grades one through three at Land O' Lakes Public School in Mountain Grove had a chance to tell their own version of the classic children's story “Where the Wild Thing Are” when five professional artists who are studying at Queens University in the Artist in Community Education program visited their school on January 25.

The five artists included Canadian children's author and former Mountain Grove resident Kait Rainey-Strathy, vocalist Patty Smith, actor/dancer Kristina Murphy, musician Graeme Thompson, and musician/writer Trevor Strong. The five artists treated the students to an interactive creative arts workshop exploring literature through movement and music. The workshop gave students an opportunity to translate Maurice Sendak's classic tale into a performance of their very own making.

The workshop began in the gym with Kait Rainey-Strathy reading the story to the students. Kait is a former LOLPS volunteer and substitute teacher and she was thrilled to revisit her old stomping grounds and work with the students. “The workshop we developed allows the children to take the literature and reinterpret it their own creative way, and allows for the integration of the arts throughout the school curriculum.”

Following the story telling each artist then led the group in a series of dance/movement, music, vocal and drama warm up exercises prior to splitting them up into five separate groups.

Each group was then assigned a specific section of the story, which they were free to interpret in an original way, through drama, music, movement and dance. After a run through, the five groups then put their individual performances together and presented them to their fellow students.

The students had a ball throughout the workshop and made their feelings known when, following their practice run, they all spontaneously erupted into a celebratory cacophony. The visiting artists were also invigorated and happy for the chance for a practical teaching and learning experience with a group of very enthusiastic students.

Teachers Joanne McCullough and Norm Guntensperger, whose classes took part in the workshop, were also grateful. “This is a chance for the students to be exposed to five new artists and to a new kind of approach to literature and story telling,” McCullough said.

Norm Guntensperger agreed and added, “It's always interesting for the kids to get a fresh look at different approaches that sometimes can offer a deeper appreciation of literature. As well, we feel very lucky that these artists chose our school to come to.”

The five artists are looking forward to graduating from the Artist in Community Education program this May.