Study Guide: Miss Nelson Is Missing

8/8/2019 Study Guide: Miss Nelson Is Missing

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2010-2011WELLS FARGO PERFORMING ARTS SERIESFOR STUDENTS

www.montalvoarts.org

Bay Area Childrens Theatres

Thursday, October 28, 2010 | 9:30am & 11:30amSaturday, October 30, 2010 | 11:00am & 1:00pm

Recommended for Grades: 1-5Curriculum Connections: English-Language Arts; VAPA: Theatre, Music 60 minutes

Miss Nelson Plot, Vocabulary, and Class Activities.. Page 2-5Bay Area Childrens Theatre Activities & Writing Prompts... Page 6-7Theatre Exercise for Your Students..... Page 8-9Worksheets.. Page 10-12


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Based on the Educational Guide by Town Hall Theatrewww.townhalltheatre.org

Miss Nelson is Missing!

ABOUT THE PLAYIn this hilarious musical a well meaning but frazzled teacher, Miss Nelson, just cant gether students to behave! One day Miss Nelson comes up missing and much to the horror of her class an evil, witchy substitute arrives named Miss Viola Swamp! The kids will doanything to get back their teacher, even if it means behaving!

PRE-PERFORMANCE THEMESCourage Teamwork Integrity GuiltKindness Respect Fairness JudgmentGood Sportsmanship Trustworthiness

VOCABULARY WORDSHail Affection Respect LondonConduct Tokyo Square root BeijingRelationship J.R.R Tolkien Individuality TarantulaGeography Fray Conscience QuestMaestro Navigate Caper PrankDr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde

THEATRE VOCABULARY LIST

Acting: pretending to be a character.Beginning, Middle, End : Three parts of a story.Characters: A person portrayed in a drama, novel or artistic piece.Conflict: The struggle between the opposing forces, ideas or interests in a play.Courage: The spirit that enables one to face danger & fear with confidence & resolution; bravery.Dialogue : A conversation that takes place between two or more charactersFacial Expression : The manner in which an actor uses his or her face to portray an emotion.Movement : How the actor uses his or her body to create a character.Plot/Storyline : The action or development of the story; has a beginning, middle and end.Point of View/Perspective : Feelings, opinions, and experiences that affect the readers outlook.Setting: Time and place where a story occurs.Teamwork : Working together as a team.Three tools of an actor : Voice, body and the imagination.Vocal Expression : The way the actor uses his or her voice to express an emotionImprovisation : Using a character to express thoughts or feelings; to act out a scenario withoutprior rehearsals.


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A lesson using the book Miss Nelson is Missing by Harry Allard

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVETo increase the children's appreciation for literature, foster vocabulary growth, practiceprediction skills, practice speaking to groups, develop creative writing skills, and facilitategroup interaction through discussion.

TARGET VOCABULARYmisbehaving unpleasant ruler missed detectivewicked discouraged ceiling whispered giggled

ANTICIPATORY SETAsk the children to get into pairs and discuss a time when they lost something. Then,display the cover of the book and ask for ideas on what might happen in the book.

STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVE"As we watch the play, I want you to think about what's happening and consider how thestory might end. Imagine how you would feel if you were a student in Miss Nelson's class."

DIRECT INSTRUCTIONRead the book while clearly showing the pictures to the class. Stop the story in the middle.

GUIDED PRACTICEAsk the class to use a piece of paper to write or draw (depending on level) about how theyimagine the story will conclude. Another possible guided practice activity for this book isReader's Theater.

CLOSUREGroup discussion where individual students volunteer to share their conclusions with therest of the class. Then, the teacher proceeds to finish reading the book so that thestudents can see how the author finished the book.


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Post Performance Activities

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Can kids behave all the time? Why or why not?

2. What do you think would be an appropriate punishment for the kids of room 207 for misbehaving so badly with Miss Nelson? Was Miss Viola Swamps reign enough? Will shehave to come back again?

3. Have the kids really learned their lesson? Do you think that they will go back to beingnaughty? Why or why not?

4. In the play Miss Nelson has to pretend that she is someone very different from herself inorder to make her students pay attention. Have you ever had to pretend that you weresomeone different from your usual self in order to have someone pay attention to you?

How did that make you feel? Did it make you feel like you werent being your real self?5. Miss Nelson gets very creative when faced with a class that doesnt behave. What aresome big problems that you or someone you know are facing? What would Miss Nelson doin that situation?

ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES

Character ComparisonUse a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the story's two main characters, MissNelson and Miss Viola Swamp. Students can draw a character in each side of the diagramand fill the rest of the space with words that describe each woman.

Clue HuntStudents will probably figure out who Miss Viola Swamp really is. Brainstorm with them theclues that led them to that conclusion. Use the book as a guide for clue-seeking.

Emotions ChartRead Miss Nelson is Missing and have students locate the places where they would havebeen angry, annoyed, upset, or happy if they had been in Miss Nelson's class. Create achart on the board to fill out with the students.

Letter WritingHave students write a letter to Miss Nelson to persuade her to return to the classroom. Inthe letter, students can make a list of rules they would follow in the future.

Papier-Mache Puppets and MasksCreate Papier-Mache Puppets and Masks of the two main characters in Miss Nelson isMissing , Miss Nelson and Miss Viola Swamp. Then have students act out the story. Their classmates can play the roles of Miss Nelson's students.


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Miss Nelson wants to make the Room 207 the best classroom atthe Horace B. Smedley Elementary School. Can you help her circle the items that belong in a classroom?

1+3=

3+1=

2+2=

1+4=

2+4=

1x4

2x4=

3x4=

4x4

4x5=

4+2=

4+3=

3+4=

4+4=

4+0=

4x6=

4x7=

4x8=

4x9=

4x10=

iola Swamp tests the kids in Room 207 ontheir math skills. Can you pass her quiz?

Based on the book byHarry AllardIllustrated by

James MarshallAdapted by Joan CushiMusic and Lyrics by Jo

CushingDirected by Nina Meeh

October 2-November 14Berkeley, Saratoga, San Ramon


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Writing Prompts:

Why do the students in Miss Nelsons classroomchange their to behavior?

Describe a time when you misbehaved and then

learned a lesson.What are three differences between Miss Nelsonand Viola Swamp?

What are three similarities between Miss Nelson andViola Swamp?

Describe a time you dressed up in a costume or pre-tended to be someone else.

The Capital of California is

The Capital of The United States of America is

The Capital of Sweden is

The Capital of China is

The Ca ital of Japan is

The Capital of England is

Viola Swamp tests the kids of Room 207 ontheir Geography skills. Can you match up?

Write to us!Let us know what you liked about the play.

Bay Area Childrens Theatre6114 La Salle Avenue, #431Oakland, CA 94611

www.bactheatre.org


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Miss Nelson Miss SwampBoth

Miss Nelson is Missing!Comparing Teachers

Name____________________


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Miss Nelsons class Miss Swamps classBoth

Miss Nelson is Missing!Comparing Classes

Name____________________


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WANTEDMiss Nelson

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Study Guide: Miss Nelson Is Missing