School Performance Teacher’s Guide
May 18, 2015 9:45 am & 1:00 pm
May 19, 2015 9:45 am
Lightwire Theatre’s
The Ugly Duckling and
The Tortoise and the Hare
Dear Teachers,
We are looking forward to having you and your students here in May for the performances of The Ugly Duckling
and The Tortoise and the Hare. Many of you may remember that we had this piece here a few years ago and the
K-2nd graders seemed to love it. We are happy to have Litewire Theatre back again.
We hope this teacher’s guide and the student’s two-sided guide help to enhance and extend the experience of
attending The Ugly Duckling and The Tortoise and the Hare for you and your students. The guide was created by
the Lied Center, USD497 teachers Lysette DeBoard and Coleen Martin, who pulled together some great lesson
plans for you and your students, and the Paramount Theatre in Austin, TX.
About the Artists - Corbian Visual Arts and Dance/Lightwire Theatre
The show’s creators Ian Carney and Corbin Popp met while dancing in Twyla Tharp’s Broadway show Movin’ Out.
Becoming fast friends through their mutual love of art, theater and technology, Corbin showed Ian a product
called EL wire and their creative partnership took off. EL wire is electroluminescent wire powered by batteries
and isused mostly to illuminate walkways, signs and instrument panels on cars. Carney and Popp quickly built
rudimentary versions of the two main characters, Professor Henslow and Darwin. Then, with the help of their
wives, Eleanor Carney and Whitney Popp (who are also dancers), they began to build the rest of their puppetrybased creatures and flesh out the original story.
Relocating from New York City to New Orleans they continued the creative process. It was here, in the Katrina
ravaged city, that the show began to take shape. The result, after years of engineering and development is
Darwin the Dinosaur. Truly unique and visually dazzling, Darwin, recipient of the prestigious Jim Henson
Foundation Grant, is an innovative theatrical experience lauded by audiences and critics all over the Americas
and Europe. The Lied Center presented Darwin the Dinosaur in 2010. Ian and Eleanor Carney founded Lightwire
Theater and, inconjunction with Corbian Visual Arts and Dance, began pre -production on their first project, The
Ugly Duckling and The Tortoise and the Hare, in January, 2011. Using Corbian’s signature electroluminescent
puppetry, Lightwire Theater successfully adapted the two classic tales for the stage!
This online guide can be accessed at www.lied.ku.edu/events/uglyduckling.shtml or on the
USD497 Blackboard site.
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Lesson Plan: Tortoise & Hare Bubble Maps
Instructional Outcome: Students will use adjectives to describe a tortoise
and a hare (separately).
Lesson Focu
sScience: reco
gnizing diff
e
physical trai rences in
ts
Procedure:
1. Before reading the story The Tortoise and the Hare, ask students to
think about the things that make a tortoise a tortoise (e.g. a shell, 4 legs, eats vegetables, etc.). Then ask students to think about the
things that make a hare a hare (e.g. furry, 4 legs, runs or hops,
moves fast, etc.).
2. Then, ask the class to take those ideas and put them on the bubble
map for each animal. For Kindergarten, work as a class activity. For 1st
grade, work in partners. For 2nd grade, work individually.
3. After the Bubble Maps have been completed, read the story The
Tortoise and the Hare to the class.
4. When the story is over, ask the class if any of the words on their
Bubble Maps would have to be changed if they were to complete the
Bubble Maps after reading the story. Allow them to discuss
Lesson Focus
either as a class or with a partner.
Language Arts: using descriptive words
(adjectives) to supply details
5. Extension: Allow students to use a different
colored pencils/markers to add or change words on the Bubble Maps to
reflect the story of The Tortoise and the Hare.
6. Extension: Allow students to rewrite the story or to write a background
story for one of the characters.
Previous Student Knowledge
Materials/Resources:
Required:
1. Bubble Maps for Tortoise and/or Hare
1. They need to have seen and/
2. Storybook The Tortoise and the Hare
or have a basic knowledge of
what a tortoise and a hare are.
s
s
:
gre
dard
P r o tor/Stan es some
i
pl
ica
its
ribe
rt Ind
d sup
desc racRepo topic an ion.
o
t
a
t
a
ry
mes informa in a sto pares ch
s
K: Na
l
m
i
o
a
c
t
d
de
and
ts, an
ions or even ries.
t
a
r
t
,
to
ry.
us
es ill s, setting ters in s ocabula
s
U
:
v
r
1
acte
new
char
arns
2: Le
Accommodations Needed:
Determined by classroom
teacher, specific to his/her
classroom.
Teacher Assessment: Assess accuracy of student work on the bubble maps.
Student Assessment: Discussion with peers about vocabulary used on the bubble maps.
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Name: ____________________
Describe a Tortoise
Fill in the bubble map with words that
describe (or tell about) a tortoise.
Tortoise
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`
Name: __________________
Describe a Hare
Fill in the bubble map with words that
describe (or tell about) a hare.
Hare
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Lesson Plan: The Ugly Duckling
Instructional Outcome: Students will compare and contrast a duck and a swan
using a Venn diagram.
Lesson Fo
cusScience: re
cognizing
differences
in
physical trai
ts
Procedure:
1. Before reading the story The Ugly Duckling, ask students to think about the
things that make a duck a duck (e.g. swims, quacks, feathers, etc.). Then ask students to think about the things that make a swan a swan (e.g. swims, honks, feathers, etc.).
2. Discuss with the class how ducks and swans are both similar and different.
3. Then, ask the class to take those ideas and put them on the Venn diagram. For
Kindergarten, work as a class activity. For 1st grade, work in partners. For 2nd
grade, work individually.
cusLesson Fo
tive
g descrip trast
n
si
4. After the Venn diagram has been
Arts: u
n
co
e
g
d
a
n
u
a
g
n
re
La
compa
to
s)
e
v
ti
c
completed, read the story The Ugly words (adje
ducks
Duckling to the class.
5. When the story is over, ask the class if any of the words on their Venn diagram
would have to be changed if they were to complete the Venn diagram after reading
the story. Allow them to discuss either as a class or with a partner.
6. Extension: Allow students to use a different colored pencils/markers to add or
change words on the Venn diagram to reflect the story of The Ugly Duckling.
7. Extension: Allow students to rewrite the story or to write a “future” story for one
of the characters.
Materials/Resources:
1. Copies of the Venn Diagram
2. Storybook The Ugly Duckling
Progress
Report Indicato
r/Standard:
K: Names a topi
c and supplies so
me
information.
1: Uses illustratio
ns and details in
a story to describ
characters, setti
e its
ng, or events, an
d compares char
acters
in stories.
2: Learns new vo
cabulary.
Previous Student Knowledge Required:
1. Students need to have seen and/or have a
basic knowledge of what a swan and a duck
are.
Accommodations Needed:
Determined by classroom teacher,
specific to his/her classroom.
Teacher Assessment: Assess accuracy of student work on the Venn diagram.
Student Assessment: Discussion with peers about vocabulary used in the Venn diagram.
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page 6
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Duck
Both
Swan
Name: _______________________________________________
Lesson Plan: Tortoise and the Hare Race
Instructional Outcome: Students will measure and graph data based upon 10 races.
Procedure:
1. Cut out and tape on the tortoise and hare images to the top of 2 Matchbox Cars. (1 set
needed per group)
2. Cut out and tape the starting line to a hard surface floor for the starting line of the racing
area. (1 starting line per group) 3. One worksheet per student or student group.
4. Tape a small block, or another item to the bottom of the
incline board on one side to help create a slight angle for cars
to roll from. Turn the board over and tape the incline board side to the edge at the starting
line (this will help to keep it from slipping during the races)
5. Have students line the two cars up on the slight incline of the board and at the count of
three they can let the two cars go at once. Let cars roll until they stop.
Lesson Foc
6. Have students fill out the graphing side of the worksheet
us
Math: Mea
surement a
nd graphin
by first coloring a space for which character won the race.
g.
7. Have students use the meter stick or measuring tape to measure the
distance from the start line for both characters and record this information on the spaces
provided on the worksheet.
8. Repeat race steps 9 more times for a total of 10 data points/races.
Extension: Reduce or increase the angle of the incline to see how the distance is affected by
repeating racing 1-10.
Materials/Resources:
• The Great Race Worksheets
• Meter stick or tape measure
• Tape for Starting Line
• 1 Incline board (per group)
• 2 Matchbox Cars (per group)
• 1 Rabbit and 1 Tortoise Image
Progress
Report Indicato
r/Standard:
Kdg.: Identify an
d compare two
between 1 and
numbers
10 greater than
, less than, or eq
as written numer
ual to,
als; Represents ad
or drawings; Des
dition with obje
cribe characteris
cts, fingers,
tics of objects, su
weight; Uses term
ch length and
s: more of, less of
, equal to;
1: Measures, com
pares and orders
length to the ne
or non-standard
arest whole stan
unit; Organize, re
dard
present, and inte
three categories.
rpret data with
up
to
2: Measure and
estimate length
s in standard un
interpret data up
its; Represent an
to four categorie
d
s
KDG-2: Commun
icates about mat
Required:
h effectively (i.e.
Talk”)
“Math
Previous Student Knowledge
• Exposure to The Tortoise and the Hare story
• Basic measurement skills (inches)
• Basic graphing
Teacher Assessment: Observation and completed worksheet by student, question for understanding.
Student Assessment: Race set up, participation, performance. Recording of data onto worksheet.
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Name: ____________”The Great Race”
How many inches did the Tortoise and Hare go in
each race? Write in the inches for both each race.
10
Race #10 :
__________
__________
9
Race #9:
__________
__________
8
Race #8:
__________
__________
7
Race #7:
__________
__________
6
Race #6:
__________
__________
5
Race #5:
__________
__________
4
Race #4:
__________
__________
3
Race #3:
__________
__________
2
Race #2:
__________
__________
1
Race #1:
__________
__________
Graph who won
for each race.
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Tortoise and Hare images below used to
cut out and tape to the Matchbox Cars.
Only one set needed per group unless used as whole
class activity or shared center activity.
--------------------------------cut here---------------------------------
--------------------------------cut here---------------------------------
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Through art, science and technology, the characters of The Ugly Duckling
and The Tortoise and the Hare come to life! All of the puppets are lined
with electroluminescent wire (EL wire) which glows in the dark.
1: Copper in the middle of the
EL wire conducts electricity,
letting it travel from one
place to another.
3: A colored plastic tube surrounds
the phosphor and copper, completing the EL.
2: A material called phosphor surrounds
the copper wire. The phosphor glows
when electricity runs through the wire.
4: When the EL wire is attached
to a power source, such as a
battery, it glows! A battery pack
that powers the EL wires is
hidden on each creature in the
show.
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Craft Project Ideas for
The Ugly Duckling
and
The Tortoise and The Hare
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Possible Videos, Songs, Stories and Art Projects to use in teaching
The Ugly Duckling and the Tortoise and the Hare
YouTube Videos and Songs:
Lightwire Theater:
UGLY DUCKLING PROMO LIGHTWIRE THEATER (3:11)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OJL_y0H_UM
Lightwire:Theater (3:53)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj8PCJ69ND4
Songs and Animated Stories: The Duck Song Video (3:12)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtN1YnoL46Q
Walt Disney The Ugly Duckling Movie (8:37)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMLNTIZR620
Five Little Ducks - Spring Songs for Children with Lyrics - Kids Songs by The Learning Station (3:01)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XECtg0w_YKk
Walt Disney Tortoise and the Hare (8:26)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeZe2qPLPh0
The Tortoise and the Hare | Lyrics Version | Story Song for Children (2:43)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCg0f18XUyQ
Live Animal Videos: Turtle and Tortoise Differences (2:02)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr0xIWECtyY
Ducks, Geese, and Swans swimming (babies included) (3:29)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOdxK5d1n9Y
Baby swans taking their first walk (4:57)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9ZFkOzIo3M
Baby Swans (1:04)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NEIpxKT__k
A Swan Nest Hatching (4:34)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJa8Tp7xBD4
New Born Baby Ducks and Mother Duck (1:11)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgQ0uMwQS1g
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Discovery Education:
Animal Discovery Fun for Kids: Friends in Flight (32:34)
https://app.discoveryeducation.com/player/view/assetGuid/
958FB222-5389-4212-B287-6F6FEDBEB90A
Swim and fly along with the ducks, swans, and swallows that live near lakes and
meadows. This video follows the life cycle of each bird from egg to adult. Unique
characteristics of bird’s feathers, including camouflage and insulation, are shown.
Traveling the migratory journeys of birds, this video reveals how birds and where
birds build their nests.
The Ugly Duckling (20:00)
https://app.discoveryeducation.com/player/view/assetGuid/6C26ED1E-39A9-4D35-BDC1AD6E86F5B46B
Questions for Your Students
One of the best things about seeing theatre and dance is being able to have a
conversation after the show. Here are some questions to think about:
1. How was the show the same or different from other versions of The Ugly Duckling
and The Tortoise and the Hare you have read?
2. What was your favorite part about the play and why?
3. What did you think about the puppets? How did they help tell the story?
4. How was music used in the show? How did music help tell the story?
5. What was the moral or lesson of each story? How might you apply these lessons to
your own life?
6. In The Ugly Duckling, the duckling gets very sad when people make fun of him for
being different. What are ways you can make somebody feel better if they are feeling
sad or left out?
7. In The Tortoise and the Hare, the tortoise wins by not giving up. What things in your
life have you accomplished by not giving up?
Sponsored by
GEORGE & MARILYN MCCLEARY
in memory of her sister, Jane Baldwin
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