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SETTING THE STAGEpreparing for the play

Synopsis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3About the Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4About the Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Recommended Reading . . . . . . . . 15Pre Show Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

FOR TEACHERSCurriculum connectionsbefore or after the play

SOCIAL EMOTIONALFriends Forever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

LANGUAGE ARTSWord page Spelling skills . . . . . . . . . 5We’ve “Scene” LOVABYE DRAGON! . 6–7Bad Hats Word War . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Adventures with Girl and Dragon . . 14

MATHA Dragon’s Tale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

SCIENCEMoon Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Foaming Dragon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

STUDENT/PARENT ACTIVITYMan in the Moon Munchies . . . . . . . .11

CURTAIN CALL

Post Show Questions . . . . . . . . . . 15Who Said It? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Who Said it? (ANSWERS) . . . . . . . 16

INSIDE T HE GU IDE

FIRST STAGE POLICIES• The use of recording equipment and cameras are not permitted during

the performance .• Food, drink, candy and gum are not permitted during the performance .• Electronic devices are not permitted in the theater space .• Should a student become ill, suffer an injury or have another problem, please

escort him or her out of the theater space .• In the unlikely event of a general emergency, the theater lights will go on

and the stage manager will come on stage to inform the audience of the problem . Remain in your seats, visually locate the nearest exit and wait for the stage man-ager to guide your group from the theater .

Seating for people with special needs: If you have special seating needs for any student(s) and did not indicate your need when you ordered your tickets, please call our Assistant Patron Services Manager at (414) 267-2962 . Our knowledge of your needs will enable us to serve you better upon your arrival to the theater .

LOVABYE DRAGON

Dear Educators and Parents, If you could fly away with your own personal dragon, where would you go? Discover who Girl and her best friend, Dragon, go in First Stage’s world premiere, LOVABYE DRAGON, based on the stories by Barbara Joose, with original music by The Happy Racers .

This magical story of true friendship will inspire the adventurer in us all . There are no limits to where Dragon—or our imaginations—will take us!

Enclosed in this enrichment guide is a range of materials and activities intended to help you discover connections within the play through the curricula . It is our hope that you will use the experience of attending the theater and seeing LOVABYE DRAGON with your students as a teaching tool . As educators and parents, you know best the needs and abilities of your students . Use this guide to best serve your children—pick and choose, or adapt, any of these suggestions for discussions or activities . We encourage you to take advantage of the enclosed student worksheets—please feel free to photocopy the sheets for your students, or the entire guide for the benefit of other teachers .

Enjoy the show!

Julia MagnascoEducation Director(414) 267-2971Julia@firststage .org

A NOTE TO TEACHERS AND PARENTS

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In this adventurous tale, we meet Girl who wishes for nothing more than a real, fire-breathing dragon . However, on her birthday she is given a small, stuffed toy dragon because her parents claim that dragons are never to be trusted or that they are too large and dangerous for Girls . Between her protective parents and broken wishes, Girl strives for an adventure outside her bedroom walls .

‘“Go to your room! Rest! Be careful! Sit gently on your tuffit’… All I wanted was to be able to go outside and play . Maybe find a friend…I never get to do anything . Trapped in this dusty, dark room all day by myself . No one to adventure with…”

Girl decides to create her own adventures through quill and scroll . As she begins to write, her adventure begins . We first meet two Bad Hats who are sailing on a ship looking for a treasure . Then all of a sudden…SPLASH! Timid, Girl looks to see what exactly caused that loud commotion . And…it…was…the stuffed dragon…

Needless to say, Girl was very upset . For the real dragon she wished for was a mere stuffed toy . Girl collapses on her bed and begins to cry because of her silly, wasted birthday wish for a real dragon . Her tears start to travel to another land, another world…into a cave where a real dragon lives! Once Dragon hears Girl’s sobbing, Dragon starts to fly toward the noise in order to rescue Girl . Dragon roars for the monsters to disappear . Over and over, again and again to stop Girl’s tears . Finally, the lonely dragon and the lonely girl meet and fall fast asleep together .

When Girl wakes, she realizes that there is a real dragon right next to her . It wasn’t a dream! It isn’t a dream! She finally has a real dragon . Now, she can finally do all the things her parents wouldn’t let her do, like going outside to play . However, for Girl and Dragon to go outside and play they will need to sneak past Girl’s Mother and Father . Girl and Dragon tip toe right past Mother and Father and make it outside, where the two of them commence in a game of hide and seek! Girl finally feels the joys of playing with a friend outside . While playing hide and seek it is Girl’s turn to hide, and she found the perfect hidey-hole and doesn’t make a sound .

Dragon panicked! Dragon couldn’t find Girl . Dragon roared and roared as loud as a dragon could, in hopes of finding Girl . Girl grew tired and fell asleep on her rock .

When Girl woke, it was night, a deep deep dark night . There was nothing around . No stars . No moon . No room . No best friends together . Just Girl . She was all alone . Frightened of the world around her, Girl starts to cry . But these sobs were unlike any other . These worried, worried tears and heart thumped a sound that only special dragon friends could hear . Dragon hears the cries of Girl and flies right to her . Our heroes are once again reunited .

Our heroes soon stumble upon a shiny, glass bottle with a secret note and map inside! It reads the following:

“Dragon and Girl, come to the farest, far away . Come for Cattywampus! Yo ho!”

Girl and Dragon decide to take an adventure to find farest, far away, a place both Dragon and Girl have always dreamt of going . The only problem is…they have to sail there and they don’t have a ship . Fortunately, Dragon volunteers to be her ship, and soon they set sail upon their adventure to farest, far away!

As Dragon and Girl head toward the horizon, they soon see something in the distance . Land ho! Both of our heroes arrive at an island shaped like a pirate hat! They have arrived at their final destination . Girl and Dragon make their way through a jungle, filled with bats, birds, cats, ruby frogs, and tiny dragons with bumpy backs! Suddenly, three Bad Hats appear and demand that Girl and Dragon hand over all their gold . Girl and Dragon are mystified, for they have no gold . The three Bad Hats were persistent and continued to demand for their gold . Just when it seemed like Girl and Dragon had nothing to offer the three Bad Hats, they came up with a clever idea .

Girl decides to share the treasure of the telling the three Bad Hats the story of Girl and Dragon and all the adventures they went on . The three Bad Hats listened and always demanded more to their story . The more the Bad Hats asked the more Girl told of monsters and giants and silver tears and sailing and notes in bottles . And so Girl and Dragon set course for another adventure . Where will they go next?

SETTING THE STAGE SYNOPSIS

1 . Friends can help us in many ways: tell about a time you helped someone . Share about a time someone helped you .

2 . Dragon and Girl go to many magical places . Where would you go if you could go anywhere in the world?

3 . Lonely means we feel sad because we are by ourself . Have you ever noticed someone that looks lonely? What could you do if you saw a classmate look like that?

4 . The author of Lovabye Dragon, Barbara Joosse likes to write about magical adventures that takes place in worlds that look different than ours . What books can you think of that have a different look than our world?

PRE-SHOW QUESTIONS

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ABOUT THE MUSIC: The Happy Racers

When Nathan Meckel (lead vocals, guitar), Mark Niemiec (drums, vocals) and Layne Ihde (guitar, trumpet, vocals) hit the stage, all bets are off, giddiness ensues and the freewheeling fun begins . Three grown men, accomplished musicians (Niemiec even has a Grammy nomination), leap out of their adult realities, get in touch with their inner goofball and jam on tunes that make music a blast again – for them and those who can’t get enough of their childlike magic . The Happy Racers first captured everyone’s imagination with their hit 2012 indie debut “Ready Set Go,” which got off to a quick start thanks to the extensive airplay for the track “Lovabye Dragon” on XM/Sirius’ Kids Place Live, the country’s most popular radio station . Another track, “I Can Do Anything,” was a finalist in the children’s category in the International Song Contest; judges for the competition included the legendary Tom Waits . Earlier in 2016, “Doghouse Jamboree” made a sly appearance in the feature film “Bandit Hound” starring Catherine Bell, Lou Ferrigno, Judd Nelson and Paul Sorvino . “Lovabye Dragon,” inspired by bestselling children’s author Barbara Joosse’s book of the same name, is rapidly taking on a multi-media life of its own . The band recently finished composing and recording a batch of new songs that will be the driving force behind the upcoming touring children’s musical, also named “Lovabye Dragon .” The pro-duction will make its debut in January 2017 with a six week run at Milwaukee’s First Stage, one of the nation’s leading the-aters for young audiences and families . The Happy Racers will be celebrating the show’s launch with two shows on January 19 at the Cedarburg Performing Arts Center and later performances at the venue . “When Mark, Layne and I play it feels true and real and fun, and I get to jam with my two of my best friends while making a lot of kids and their parents smile a lot!” says Meckel . “Our songs have some meat to them but our shows are like oreos, with layers of ridiculousness laced with sugar . We watch the kids up front go nuts over the music, as their parents look on with a smile . When we’re up there, it doesn’t feel like we’re in the music business, it just feels like music!” —Nathan Meckel (Composer)

Barbara Joosse (born February 18, 1949) is an American children’s writer . She has been writ-ing for children for over thirty years . She has published 38 books for children, both picture books and chapter books . Through her writing, she aspires to find the things that are the same, and the things that are different, between us all . She has toured worldwide to pro-mote her books, which have been translated into twenty-eight languages . She is a native of Wisconsin, currently living in Cedarburg, and she attended UW-Madison . She works in a charming historical stone house by a river . Joosse and her husband Chuck have three grown children, Maaike, Anneke, and Rob, and two dogs, Nugget and Poppy .

“I believe I have no business writing for children unless I spend time with them . I love visit-ing children, passing along my love for books and them, drawing details from them to use in future books .

Children never ever ever stop surprising and inspiring me . My school sessions are lively and personal . I introduce many important writing concepts and children see the connection between my personal life and the books I create .”

Joosse was not always a fan of books and libraries, until she first read the “Eloise” books — about children who were naughty and nice . Joosse also eventually discovered that libraries were more than places where you were supposed to be neat, and quiet, and not giggle — they are places where kids can find out about whatever they want .

Joosse has won many awards for her children’s books, including: 10 Best Illustrated Books, New York Times; Best Picture Book Text, Society of Children’s Book Writers; New York Library Association Top Book of the Season; Chicago Library’s Best; ABC’s Best Books for Children; New York Library Association Best of the Season; Chicago Libraries Best; CCBC 2005 Choices; Book of the Week, Booklist; and Kansas State Reading Circle’s recommended list .

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Barbara Joosse

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The word dragon starts with ‘ dr ’ .

How many words can you find that start with ‘ dr ’ ?Write them on this page.

dr ____________ drop

dr ____________ drink

dr ____________ dress

dr ____________ draw

Taken directly from: http://www.madresfieldschool.net/homelearning.html

WORD PAGE Spelling skills

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Taken directly from: http://www.madresfieldschool.net/homelearning.html

WE’VE “SCENE” LOVABYE DRAGON! A Language Arts Classroom Activity

Begin a discussion with your class about the play, LOVABYE DRAGON. Ask them what their favorite scenes and characters were. Then, write 3 columns on the board and label them Beginning, Middle, and End. Ask the students to put the parts of the play in the correct sequence, listing the moments in the correct columns on the board. After the discussion, distribute the worksheets on the next page in this guide and ask the students to draw their favorite moment from each column on the board.

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WE’VE “SCENE” LOVABYE DRAGON! A Language Arts Classroom Activity

Draw your favorite scene from the beginning, the middle, and the end of Lovabye Dragon.

BEGINNING

MIDDLE

END

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Just like people, dragons are unique- they have something special about them. In groups or as a class, have students complete the pattern on each of the dragon tails.

A DRAGON’S TALE A Math Pattern worksheet

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Girl and Dragon are best friends that care about each other. When we care about people, we do things that show them that we care. Play a game of charades while acting out posi-tive choices we can make to be a good friend.

DIRECTIONS1 . Separate the class into teams or play all together .

2 . Select one or two students to come to the front and pick one of the friendship cards to act out . Feel free to make up some of your own!

3 . Students should silently act out the friendly action . You may need to help them by adding in some dialogue and act-ing it out with them .

4 . After the game, keep a list of all of these positive actions that friends do for each other .

FRIENDS FOREVER A Character Education Game

LISTENING

COMPLIMENTS

HUG

HELP CLEAN UP

CHEER UP

HIGH FIVE CARE

SMILE

SOLVE PROBLEMS

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• The Moon is about 4.5 billion years old and is the only natural satellite in our Solar System. The Moon formed about 30–50 million years after the Earth formed. The moon came about when a large object hit the Earth and blasted out rocks that all came together and orbited round the Earth.

• Eventually they all melted together like in a big heated pot, cooled down and became the Moon. For another 500 million years pieces of rock kept striking against the surface of the Moon.

• The Moon is not made of cheese! The Moon very likely has a very small core. It probably consists mostly of iron, but may also contain large amounts of sulfur and other elements. Its rocky mantle is made up of dense rocks rich in iron and magnesium.

• It is the fifth largest moon in the Solar System.

• The Moon is airless, waterless and lifeless.

• The Moon would fit into the Earth nearly 4 times!

• You can see the surface of the Moon by using a pair of binoculars or a small telescope. The Moon’s surface shows the damage caused by these large pieces of rock hitting it billions of years ago. The surface is covered in craters, pits and scars.

Source: http://www.coolkidfacts.com/moon-facts-for-kids/

MOON FACTS

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Girl and Dragon visit the Man in the Moon for some tasty cheesy treats. What are your favorite cheese treats to eat?

CHEESY MOONS

INGREDIENTS1 package refrigerated dinner roll dough

1 package of your favorite cheeseSauce for dipping- Ranch, ketchup, pizza sauce

DIRECTIONS1 . With a grownup’s help, set the oven to 375 degrees .

2 . Using a cookie or biscuit cutter, cut the dough into circles .

3 . Place cheese in the middle of each piece of dough and fold in half . Pinch the ends together so the cheese doesn’t melt out . *Brush some butter on top for an extra golden top!

4 . Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or sprayed with cooking spray .

5 . Bake for 12-14 minutes or until golden brown .

MAN IN THE MOON MUNCHIES A Student/Parent Activity

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BAD HATS WORD WAR

The bad hats use some silly language! Using the list below to create your own compound words for objects around your classroom.

Instead of calling them your classmates, they are now called ________________________________ .

A notebook is now called a ____________________________________________________________ .

Your backpack is a ___________________________________________________________________ .

When you stub your toe, you exclaim, “ __________________________________________________ !”

BOG

TUG

PIPPLE

CATTY

CRAB

GIMBLE

LOMPY

SNARK

MERKY

GOB

SCREAVY

NOBBLET

CAP

BINGLE

WHIP

TOAD

BUCKY

FOBBIT

DINKLE

WAMPUS

HEAVER

PLUMBUS

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FOAMING DRAGON Science Experiment

This Foaming Dragon Science Experiment combines a fun Dragon craft with a science experiment that teaches about acid/base reactions . This is a science experiment that even a small scientist can do .

How to Make a Foaming Dragon Science ExperimentSupplies needed:

• Green (or other color if you choose) Foam Craft Sheets or cardstock . We used craft foam because we didn’t think it would get ruined as easily when we did the experiment .

• Tape• Googly Eyes• Plastic wide-mouth bottle• Vinegar• Dishwashing liquid• Liquid Food Dye• Baking Soda

First you need to make the dragon . Draw the dragon’s tail on one of the foam sheets and cut it out .

Also draw and cut out two arms and two legs from foam sheet .

Tape tail and arms and legs onto the bottle .

Glue or tape on two googly eyes so it looks as though the dragon is looking up . Now you are ready for the experiment!

Fill the bottle half way full of vinegar and add a squirt of dishwashing liquid and a drop or two of food coloring . (You can use whatever color you want and change it up each time you do it .)Gently mix the contents of the bottle and place in the middle of a large cookie sheet or other tray . (It will be messy so make sure it is contained in some way!)

Add a teaspoon or more of baking soda to the bottle and watch the dragon foam at the mouth .

So what’s happening? When you mix vinegar and baking soda it makes carbon dioxide. This forms bubbles in the vinegar and causes it to expand. The gas bubbles react with the dish soap to make a foam. The bubbles make the mixture expand and rise causing the dragon to foam at the mouth.

Taken directly from: http://www.thejoysofboys.com/foaming-dragon-science-experiment/

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ADVENTURES WITH GIRL AND DRAGON A Language Arts Classroom Activity

Girl and Dragon played together and flew to a faraway land on a treasure hunt! Where do you think they will go next?

Fill in the blanks in the sentence below and draw a picture of what Dragon and Girl will do next .

Girl and Dragon ______________________________________________________________________________________ .

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WHO SAID IT?

POST-SHOW QUESTIONS

1 . Now don’t be blue, my little darling donut . Open your present .

2 . Dragons are no to be trusted .

3 . I asked for a real dragon…

4 . My motto is: Play it safe .

5 . Merkycaps! She’s coming back! Duck!

6 . Well, you are not much help my biggle Dragon friend .

7 . Mr . Man in the moon? We’re very hungry . Might you share some cheese, if you please?

8 . Now don’t be tryin’ to trick ye screavy crabheavers! Hand over yer treasure .

1 . Dragon and Girl help each solve problems and help each other when in need . When have you helped a friend?

2 . Why do you think the Bad Hats wanted gold more than anything else in the world?

3 . How did Dragon and Girl help each other? Why did they do it?

4 . At the end of the play, Girl asks Dragon, “What’s next?” What do you think their next adventure will be? Do you think they will join forces with the Bad Hats? Will they meet some brand new friends?

RECOMMENDED READING

Lovabye Dragon – Barbara Joosse

Evermore Dragon – Barbara Joosse

Paper Bag Princess – Robert Munsch

Part Time Princess – Deborah Underwood

Raising Dragons – Jerdine Nolen

Waking Dragons – Jane Yolen

When a Dragon Moves In – Jodi Moore

Not Your Typical Dragon – Dan Bar-el

Dragons Love Tacos – Adam Rubin

There’s No Such Thing as a Dragon – Jack Kent

Again! – Emily Gravett

If I Had a Dragon – Tom Ellery

Puff, the Magic Dragon – Peter Yarrow

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WHO SAID IT? ANSWERS

1 . Now don’t be blue, my little darling donut . Open your present . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FATHER

2 . Dragons are no to be trusted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MOTHER

3 . I asked for a real dragon… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GIRL

4 . My motto is: Play it safe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FATHER

5 . Merkycaps! She’s coming back! Duck! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BAD HAT

6 . Well, you are not much help my biggle Dragon friend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GIRL

7 . Mr . Man in the moon? We’re very hungry . Might you share some cheese, if you please? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GIRL

8 . Now don’t be tryin’ to trick ye screavy crabheavers! Hand over yer treasure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BAD HAT