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Teacher's Instructional Guide GOODSPEED MUSICALS TEACHER’S INSTRUCTIONAL GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS A WONDERFUL LIFE How to Use the Guides......................................................................................................................................3 Goodspeed Opera House ABOUT THE SHOW: Sept 18 - Nov 29, 2015 Characters & Synopsis.......................................................................................................................4 _________ Elementary Language Arts Lesson................................................................................6 Middle School Language Arts Lesson.........................................................................7 Adapted from the Frank Capra High School English Lesson............................................................................................8 film “It’s A Wonderful Life” “The Greatest Gift” Story..................................................................................................9 Meet the Writers...............................................................................................................................17 Music by Behind the Scenes: Costume Design.......................................................................................19 JOE RAPOSO SUPPORTING INFORMATION: Home, Family and Changes in the American Dream...........................................................20 Elementary Social Studies Lesson...............................................................................22 Book and Lyrics by Middle School Social Studies Lesson.........................................................................23 SHELDON HARNICK High School History Lesson..........................................................................................24 Elementary Visual and Perfoming Lesson...............................................................25 Middle School Visual and Performing Arts Lesson...............................................26 Lighting Design by SCOTT BOLMAN High School Visual and Performing Arts Lesson...................................................27 It’s A Wonderful Philosophy...........................................................................................................34 Elementary Civics Lesson...............................................................................................36 Costume Design by Middle School Civics Lesson.........................................................................................38 JENNIFER CAPRIO High School Civics Lesson..............................................................................................41 Elementary Visual Art Lesson.......................................................................................42 Middle School Visual Art Lesson.................................................................................44 Scenic Design by High School Visual Art Lesson.....................................................................................45 BRIAN PRATHER What is A Wonderful Life?...............................................................................................................52 Elementary Language Arts Lesson.............................................................................53 Choreographed by Middle School Language Arts Lesson........................................................................54 PARKER ESSE High School English Lesson..........................................................................................55 Interesting Facts................................................................................................................................................56 Resources.............................................................................................................................................57 Directed by Theatre Etiquette..............................................................................................................................................58 MICHAEL PERLMAN Thank you to our A Wonderful Life Be In The Know sponsor Executive Director MICHAEL GENNARO Goodspeed’s Audience Insights can be found on our website: www.goodspeed.org/guides The Teacher’s Instructional Guide for A Wonderful Life was prepared by: Joshua S. Ritter, M.F.A, Education & Library Director Kathryn Micari, Education & Library Assistant Katherine Griswold, Creative Content Manager TIG updated 09.18.15 2 HOW TO USE THE GUIDES THE TEACHER’S INSTRUCTIONAL GUIDE (TIG) is intended for use by teachers who will bring their school groups to attend performances at Goodspeed Musicals. The TIG provides background information, teaching ideas, and prompts to facilitate students’ knowledge and appreciation of the show’s themes and characters. The TIG activities are influenced by state and national standards associated with the arts, language arts, social studies, and science. THE STUDENT GUIDE TO THE THEATRE serves as a companion to the Teacher’s Instructional Guide (TIG). It includes a plot and character summary, accessible historical and thematic background information to support the lessons in the TIG, and a behind-the-scenes look at the production. It also includes fun facts, theatre terms, and activities. Each lesson in the TIG corresponds to a specific section in the Student Guide. Reading the Student Guide before attending a Goodspeed production will increase the likelihood that students will take active, critical roles as audience members, which will then lead to valuable classroom discussions. The chart below maps the connection between the TIG’s lessons and supporting material with the corresponding pages in the Student Guide. LEVEL/SUBJECT LEARNING PHASE LESSON TOPIC TIG STUDENT GUIDE Elementary Before the Show Adapting a Story Lesson: p. 6 Student Material: Language Arts Support Material: p. 4-5, 9-16 p. 3-5 Elementary Understanding Community Lesson: p. 22 Student Material: Social Studies Connections Support Material: p. 4-5, 20-21 p. 3-5, 9-10 Elementary After the Show Propaganda Lesson: p. 42 Student Material: Visual Art Support Material: p. 4-5, 34-35, 43 p. 3-5, 11-12 Elementary Before the Show The Heroes and Villains Lesson: p. 25 Student Material: Visual & Performing Arts of A Wonderful Life Support Material: p. 4-5, 20-21 p. 3-5, 9-10 Elementary Understanding What are Ethics in a Lesson: p. 36 Student Material: Civics Business? Support Material: p. 4-5, 34-35, 37 p. 3-5, 11-12 Elementary After the Show The Genre of A Lesson: p. 53 Student Material: Language Arts Wonderfule Life? Support Material: p. 4-5, 52 p. 3-5, 13 Middle School Before the Show Adapting a Story Lesson: p. 7 Student Material: Language Arts Support Material: p. 4-5, 9-16 p. 3-5 Middle School Understanding Community Lesson: p. 23 Student Material: Social Studies Connections Support Material: p. 4-5, 20-21 p. 3-5, 9-10 Middle School After the Show Propaganda Lesson: p. 44 Student Material: Visual Arts Support Material: p. 4-5, 34-35, 43 p. 3-5, 11-12 Middle School Before the Show The Heroes and Villains Lesson: p. 26 Student Material: Visual & Performing Arts of A Wonderful Life Support Material: p. 4-5, 20-21 p. 3-5, 9-10 Middle School Understanding What are Ethics in a Lesson: p. 38 Student Material: Civics Business? Support Material: p. 4-5, 34-35, 39-40 p. 3-5, 11-12 Middle School After the Show The Genre of A Lesson: p. 54 Student Material: Language Arts Wonderfule Life? Support Material: p. 4-5, 52 p. 3-5, 13 High School Before the Show Adapting a Story Lesson: p. 8 Student Material: English Support Material: p. 4-5, 9-16 p. 3-5 High School Understanding Community Lesson: p. 24 Student Material: History Connections Support Material: p. 4-5, 20-21 p. 3-5, 9-10 High School After the Show Propaganda Lesson: p. 45 Student Material: Visual Arts Support Material: p. 4-5, 34-35, 46-51 p. 3-5, 11-12 High School Before the Show The Heroes and Villains Lesson: p. 27 Student Material: Visual & Performing Arts of A Wonderful Life Support Material: p. 4-5, 20-21, 28-33 p. 3-5, 9-10 High School Understanding What is An Ethical Lesson: p. 41 Student Material: Civics Business? Support Material: p. 4-5, 34-35 p. 3-5, 11-12 High School After the Show The Genre of A Lesson: p. 55 Student Material: English Wonderfule Life? Support Material: p. 4-5, 52 p. 3-5, 13 3 CHARACTERS & SYNOPSIS CHARACTERS SYNOPSIS GEORGE BAILEY: A small-town boy with big dreams. He Matthew, an Executive Angel, informs Clarence, a bumbling longs to leave his hometown of Bedford Falls and travel Angel Second Class, that he will finally have the chance the world, but he continuously puts his dreams on hold to to earn his wings. All Clarence has to do is save the life support his family, friends, and save his family’s business. of a man named George Bailey. Matthew tells Clarence that George has finally reached the end of his rope and is HARRY BAILEY: George Bailey’s younger, happy-go-lucky contemplating suicide. In order to earn his wings, he must brother. convince George that life is worth living. To help Clarence save George, Matthew shows him the most important days UNCLE BILLY: George and Harry’s scatterbrained uncle. in George’s life. MILLIE BAILEY: Matriarch of the Bailey family and mother By observing various memories, the angels see that to George and Harry. George’s dearest ambitions in life are to travel, go to college and become an architect—three goals that he is ultimately TOM BAILEY: George and Harry’s father and the founder unable to realize. George indefinitely delays his plans to of the family business,
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