| One of the best ideas for making a fun school | | | | putting mats across the front of the stage and |
| program is to listen to the kids. Children have | | | | doing tumbling routines to modern music. |
| very active imaginations and they are not shy | | | | Cheerleading became popular and they were used |
| about expressing their ideas. If you are open to | | | | for that. |
| their ideas you can give your programs zip and | | | | SINGING---When two girls had to sing a sad song |
| humor. It also gives the children ownership to the | | | | about having no friends they suggested sitting on |
| program. Here are a few ideas that the students | | | | the piano like the professional singers do. |
| have come up with in some of my programs. | | | | SONGS---For Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer the |
| INSERT A COMMERCIAL. Our children are | | | | students suggested having one prop that they |
| bombarded with commercials and they can sing | | | | could use and do the silly part of the song such |
| most of the jingles from memory. One year I | | | | as "Dumbo" "Monopoly". |
| had 3 boys that felt our program needed some | | | | You know the part that irritates music directors |
| spicing up and they suggested the old Wendy's | | | | and teachers. So they made something in the |
| commercial "Where's the Beef". They dressed up | | | | shape of a giant 1 foot light bulb, with a small |
| as three little old ladies and brought the house | | | | knob on the handle, that was yellow on one side |
| down with laughter. | | | | and gray on one side. They used it for the light |
| SHY STUDENTS--One shy student wanted to be | | | | bulb, for an elephants trunk for Dumbo, a |
| front and center on stage and speak, but he | | | | monopoly piece, and the knob was glittered red |
| didn't want anyone to see him. He came as the | | | | for Rudolph nose. |
| unknown comic with a sack over his head with | | | | COSTUMES---Students ideas for costumes can |
| holes cut for his eyes. | | | | save a lot of time. They were always to keep |
| STROBE LIGHTS--The students came up with | | | | them to only things that they had at home and |
| many ideas to use a strobe light. A baseball game, | | | | not ask mom for anything else. They used mops |
| a wrestling match, a cop chasing the bad guy. | | | | for hair, Styrofoam balls for noses, cowboy hats |
| BLACK LIGHTS--Some girls suggested the use of | | | | for a western, tinsel for belts, glitter to make |
| black lights for a rock and roll song. They wore | | | | them sparkle under the lights. |
| white shirts, white socks, and white hair ribbons. | | | | Take a chance and ask the students what actions |
| The black lights became so popular that they | | | | they could use. Keep a careful watch on the class |
| would make up other dances . Once they were | | | | show off because they will come up with actions |
| used with white gloves and sign language. | | | | that are winners in a program, but problems in |
| TUMBLING--A group of students suggested | | | | the classroom. It is their chance to shine. |