Note to Teachers
This study guide is designed to offer prerequisite learnings to maximize student reception of the University of Regina Theatre Department’s production of Leanna Brodie’s Schoolhouse.
The guide is directed towards students Grades 6 through 9. You may also find it useful for older students, as it is an inquiry-based document, offering students links to more advanced material, if desired.
It offers background information on the play, student productions, some of this production’s dominant themes, and a glossary of vocabulary and concepts. Each section comes with suggested activities, designed to help synthesize learnings, and offer opportunities for further creative questioning and exploration. While these are offered for the students to do independently or in groups, you may decide you want to incorporate them into your class time. You will find these activities at the end of each section (except for the Glossary section, where it is at the beginning of the section).
There is also a section containing questions for student reflection after seeing the production. Teachers may wish to direct students to the questions before attending the play, and assign one, some or all of them as a journaling assignment for the students in attendance.
This is an interactive study guide, and will be in development through the play’s run. If there are words or concepts that you think would be useful to have glossed, please contact Kelley.jo@sasktel.net . Students who send in a gloss suggestion will have their named entered for a prize draw at the end of the play’s run.
Kelley Jo Burke, B.A., B.A.E.D.