T h e Los A L A m os N AT i o N A L B A N k PoPejoy Schooltime SerieS T e Ac h i N g g u i d e D c EE Tm H SR A RA C

Tuesday, december 12, 2017 by LighTwire TheaTer gr

ades

: K -

12 Dreamcatchers Teaching Guides align with the Common Core State Standards and New Mexico State Learning Standards.

a veryeLecTricchristmas

A Very Electric Christmas Teaching guide Dreamcatchers 2

a very electric christmas brightens up the holidays for audiences of all ages. Lightwire

theater combines its unique technologically stunning visual effects with a heart-

warming story that puts a new spin on “coming home for the holidays.” the show is

performed in complete darkness as the actors and dancers are dressed in all black

beneath their extraordinary costumes that use special electroluminescent wire to create

spectacular imagery. the storyline follows the adventures of a young bird named max

as he loses his family on their way south for the winter and has to find his way home on

his own. the show’s musical score combines timeless holiday classics of tchaikovsky’s

Nutcracker with more modern songs by mariah carey, Louis armstrong, and Nat King

cole, among others. the show’s captivating choreography features dancing flowers

and worms as well as electrifying action scenes with matrix-like fighting moves. this

delightful holiday production will make children wide-eyed with delight and warm even

the coldest of hearts.

IntroductIon

In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary.”

- aaroN rose‘‘

Standards Addressed By Attending the Performance

NmccsseLa-Literacy.sL.2

New mexico content

standards: Fine arts/theatre content

standards 3 & 5

A Very Electric Christmas Teaching guide Dreamcatchers 3

Synopsisat the opening of the show, santa’s helpers are putting the final touches on presents as max and his family are heading south for the winter. a couple of mischievous rats snoop around the gifts and steal a few, but there is even more tragic news: young max has been blown off course and lost his family! max’s parents are distraught at the disappearance of their fledgling, but the rats are intrigued. they hatch an evil plan to get to max before he is rescued. ignorant of all of this commotion, max needs to find his way home. his spirits are raised and his adventures truly begin when he encounters a friendly trio of caroling worms. several other characters join the action before max is reunited with his family, including dancing poinsettias, nutcracker soldiers, and the sinister rat King. the show’s finale neatly ties all of the plot lines together and features an epic battle scene that takes full advantage of Lightwire theater’s famous array of dazzling light effects.

VocabularyBattery: a device that stores energy and makes it available as electricity

Charge: the amount of electricity an object contains

Circuit: an electric device that provides a path for electric current to flow

Conductor: a substance that allows electric current to pass through it

Current: the flow of electricity in an electric circuit

Electricity: a form of energy produced by the flow of electrons

Fuse: a protective device designed to melt or break when the current flowing through it becomes too strong

Gesture: a movement of part of the body, especially a hand or the head, expressing an idea, emotion, or meaning

Insulator: a material that does not allow the flow of electricity to pass through it

Manipulate: to handle or control (a tool, mechanism, etc.), typically in a skillful manner

Puppet: a doll whose actions are controlled by an outside person (i.e. puppeteer)

Switch: a mechanical device used to turn a current on or off in an electric circuit

Transformer: an electric device that is used to raise or lower the voltage of

electricity

Volt: a unit of measurement for electricity; indicates how much pressure there is on an electric current

A Very Electric Christmas Teaching guide Dreamcatchers 4

What is Electroluminescent Wire?

electroluminescent wire (eL wire) is a thin copper wire coated in phosphor, which glows when an electric current is applied to it. Used in safety and emergency lightning, toys, clothing, and structure decoration, eL wire is unique from other stringed lights in that it produces a continuous stream of unbroken visible light. the wire’s extreme thinness allows for great flexibility – fantastic for use in designing puppets.

Interesting Facts for StudentsAll glow-in-the-dark products contain phosphors. Phosphor is a substance that radiates visible light after being energized. the two places where we most commonly see phosphors are in a tv screen or computer monitor and in fluorescent lights.

Temperature has a direct effect on glow chemical products. cooling or freezing a chemical reaction causes the effects to slow, while heating it speeds up the reaction.

By placing an activated glow stick in the freezer, you are slowing the chemical reaction. By completely freezing a glow stick, you are effectively shutting “off” the glow effect so that it can be used again. Never defrost it by using a microwave.

The ancient Greek god Phosphorus was known as the bringer of light. he was often evoked in reference to venus when the planet was visible before dawn. the Latin name for this same god was “Lucifer.”

EL WIrE:

has a decorative safety function used on stairs, walkways, and bike helmets. it is widely used to illuminate and decorate clothing (think glowing suits), bicycle spokes and turntables.

can break if exposed to moisture (water).

is powered by alternating current (ac), not direct current (Dc).

is one of the most efficient forms of lighting on the market. it burns very little energy, glows cool to the touch and costs relatively little.

is durable. Unlike neon or fluorescent light, eL wire has no filament that can break.

is popular because it’s fairly easy to create interesting effects such as pulsing light, circles, or specific patterns that match a tempo. in order to produce such effects, you’ll need to use a sequencer. sequencers are programmable, letting you control your lighting pattern and the speed at which it moves

creating the charactersthe process of building Lightwire theater’s electroluminescent characters starts with the creators and the cast. the designers make many artistic choices when they make the characters that determine the kinds of roles they play in the story. some examples are choices of color, size, and shape.

they build everything themselves from the ground up, with each sculpture taking nearly 200 hours of intensive labor. the foundation begins with a base that includes triggers and armatures. they utilize recyclable materials including aluminum rods, election signs, skateboard wheels, dryer ducting, plumbing supplies, Pvc pipes, fishing poles, duct tape, zip ties, and backpacks to help define peaks and angles. these common household items help create durable and pliable sculptures that can withstand the movement of the dancers and multiple performances. Black fabric is added to the sculpture for dimension and then lined with electroluminescent wire known as “eL wire,” which is soldered everywhere the wire is connected. Unlike black lights, “eL wire” can be powered by batteries, requires no theatrical lighting, and provides 360-degrees of glowing light. once the character is “turned on,” it can use up to 16 aa or rechargeable batteries per performance.

the actors must remain invisible during the performance; therefore, they will only be seen where the eL wire is backlighting their bodies. considering this is a show without words, the characters are brought to life by the actors through movement and dance set to music.

see a video on the process and photos of construction at Lightwire theatre.

A Very Electric Christmas Teaching guide Dreamcatchers 5

History of Puppet theater While the precise origin of puppets is unknown, puppetry dates back over 3,000 years. Puppets are mentioned in egyptian writings as early as 422 B.c.e. Following egypt, puppetry became part of popular culture in india, indonesia, Japan, and europe. india included the use of stick puppets depicting indian epics such as mahabharata and Balakanda. indonesian puppets were (and still are) considered sacred and part of ritual ceremonies. in Japan, puppets took on more entertainment with ornate designs as well as on a larger scale in street theater. in europe, puppets acted out morality tales in plays, behaving in ways that would have been unacceptable for humans to portray. By the 19th century, string puppets had upgraded from two strings to controls that included

as many as eight strings. shortly thereafter, puppetry was divided from actor theaters and began to compete with vaudeville and music hall theater. in the 20th century, a resurgence of popular puppetry was seen with the introduction of the muppets, created by Jim hensen, and the musical The Lion King, based on the Disney classic tale. Puppets continue to appeal to children and families on television, movies, and stage and are seen as a way to relate moral messages about childhood concepts.

types of Puppets Marionette (string Puppetry)—puppets are suspended by strings from a horizontal bar held in the puppeteer’s hand. By manipulating the tilt of the bar, puppeteers make the puppet move.

Hand Puppetry—puppets are

controlled by the puppeteer’s hand, which is placed directly inside of the puppet.

Two-man Puppetry—larger puppets are controlled by two puppeteers, typically one operating the head while the other operates the body.

Carnival (Body Puppetry)—these puppets are seen in Lightwire theater’s shows, street spectacles, sporting games, or the Lion King. Puppets are worn as a full-body suit.

Bunraku Puppetry—based in Japan, a life-size wooden puppet is illuminated by focused light; however, puppeteers can be seen by the audience.

Shadow Puppetry—a paper cutout on a stick is illuminated onto a piece of white fabric, producing shadows that are viewed by the audience and allow puppeteers to be hidden.

A Very Electric Christmas Teaching guide Dreamcatchers 6

Objectives

MaterialsGlowing Glue

• 1-2 bottles of clear glue (i.e. elmer’s clear school glue)

• Glow-in-the dark paint (i.e. Decoart Glow in the Dark Paint, found at most craft stores and Walmart)

Glowing Ornaments

• small balloons (water balloons work great!)

• string or yarn

• vaseline

• Newspaper

• ornament hooks

Glowing Holiday Cards

• construction paper or cardstock

• Pencils, markers, etc.

Holiday Window Clings

• Wax paper

• Pencil

Procedure Make Glowing Glue:

1. take 1 bottle of clear glue (white glue can also be used) and mix about .5 oz of glow-in-the-dark paint right in the bottle. Now you have glowing glue!

Ornaments:

2. cover work area with newspaper—this will get messy!

3. cut yarn or string into manageable strips.

4. have each student inflate a balloon and rub a little vaseline on it to prevent string from sticking.

5. run the string through the glue. make sure it is covered completely. Use your fingers to remove excess glue from string.

6. Place the string on the balloon. add pieces until a decorative ball has formed.

7. allow balls to dry completely, and then pop the balloon. add an ornament hook to the ball.

Glowing Holiday Cards:

8. cut holiday shapes out of construction paper (christmas trees, candy canes, menorahs, candles, snowmen, etc.)

9. Decorate the shapes with the glowing glue. you can create borders, decorations, or smear the surface of the shape with the glue.

10. allow to dry.

11. Glue the shape to the front of a card, made with either construction paper or cardstock.

Holiday Window Clings:

12. Give each student a piece of wax paper.

13. students will use the glowing glue to make holiday shapes on the wax paper. they may want to draw their designs with a pencil before applying the glue.

14. allow glue to dry completely.

15. Peel the shapes off of the wax paper and they will stick on any glass surface.

• Learn how to make glowing glue.

• create holiday-themed crafts using glowing glue.

Glowing Holiday crafts lesson 1

Grades 3 - 4Nmccss

eLa.Literacy.sL.2

New mexico content

standards:Fine arts/visual arts:

content standards

1, 2, & 4

Extensions/Modifications

Assessment

you can also mix florescent paints with glue to get more color options. the glue won’t glow in the dark, but it’ll glow brightly under a blacklight.

• Quality of participation

A Very Electric Christmas Teaching guide Dreamcatchers 7

Grades 3 - 8Nmccss

eLa-Literacy.sL.2

New mexico content

standards:Fine arts/theatre:

content standards

1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

Grades: 2-12

(with modifications

for PreK & K)

objectives

materials • an open space for students to work in

Procedure 1. students will stand in a circle, leaving enough space for them to move their arms and legs without hitting the people next to them. have students stretch and shake their arms, legs, and heads to warm up their bodies.

2. tell students they will be exploring how to move their bodies as if they were attached to strings, just like a type of puppet called a marionette (have them think of Pinocchio).

3. First have students lift their arms and legs normally. then imagine that they have strings attached to their wrists and ankles. When they move their arms or legs, they are only able to do so because an invisible pup peteer is pulling up on their strings. ask students to note how their movements are different with their invisible strings attached. allow time for them to explore different ways of moving.

4. ask students to get in pairs: one student will act as a puppeteer and the other will act as a puppet. the puppeteer cannot speak and must indicate to the puppet how it is to move by gently tapping the puppet’s wrists or feet and pointing in the direction it would like the puppet to move. the puppet may only make moves that the puppeteer indicates. Give students time to try different ways of moving the puppets around.

5. allow time for each student to play puppet and puppeteer.

6. think about some of the puppets and characters from the show. can you mimic their movements with your

human puppets?

students will:

• explore different ways to move their bodies for different effects.

• work collaboratively to tell a story.

Human Puppets lesson 2

Extensions/Modifications

Assessment

• Before starting this activity, guide students through a mirroring exercise. Divide students into pairs. have them take turns being the leader, where they perform a series of movements while their partner tries to “mirror” their movements. once students get the hang of it, they can alternate leading the activity back and forth without pausing.

• Quality of participation

A Very Electric Christmas Teaching guide Dreamcatchers 8

Questions to Engage & connectafter seeing the show, ask

your students to answer these questions:

Before seeing this show, i didn’t

know that…

This show made me think about…

even though the actors didn’t talk, I knew what was

happening because...

I could see the connection between the music and the

story when/because...

overall, the show made me feel…

i think the best part of the show is...

something I want to share with my family about the

experience is…

Bonus Explorations Adafruit Learning System - 10 eL Wire activity Guides and 49 Projects

Steve Spangler Science - the science Behind halloween Glowing recipes

Kids Activities Blog - 25 Glow-in-the-Dark Projects

Pinterest - 30 Glowing activities

Science Friday - Learn about phosphorescence and how certain materials can absorb and store energy from a light source.

resourcesWebsites

Science Kids check out the exciting subject of electricity for kids with a range of experiments, free games, science fair projects, quizzes, interesting facts, videos, worksheets and more! Learn about circuits, lightning, batteries, conductors and all kinds of electricity topics.

How Stuff Works a fascinating, in-depth look at eL Wire!

VIdEOS

Lightwire Theater a short video on the

process of building Lightwire theater’s electroluminescent characters.

All About Electroluminescent Materials a brief explanation of electroluminescent materials.

Team iLuminate music, art, and technological magic of iLuminate bring you stories of adventure and romance told through dance styles.

About the company Founded by ian and eleanor carney together with corbin and Whitney Popp, Lightwire Theater launched their first shows in January of 2011. aside from appearing in numerous performances in their native New orleans and being featured on “america’s Got talent,” Lightwire’s puppetry-based unique neon creatures can be seen all over the Us and at several international locations. to create each costume, the artists use electroluminescent wire (known as “eL wire”) that provides 360-degrees of glowing light and an array of recyclable materials, from aluminum rods and skateboard wheels to dryer ducting and fishing poles. the result is anything your inner-child can dream of, including 16-ft. tall birds, dinosaurs, ducks, soldiers, swords, and more!

About the Schooltime Seriesthe Los alamos National Bank Popejoy schooltime series brings you national and international touring companies and performers you can’t see anywhere else in or around albuquerque. each touring company is selected with youth and family audiences in mind, and our repertoire reflects the cultural diversity of our global community. the schooltime series includes new plays, familiar stories, literary works, biographies, mythologies, folk tales, music, dance, and puppetry. these professional performing artists create educational experiences designed to encourage literacy, creativity, communication, and imagination.

send an email with your name and email address to schooltime@popejoypresents.com requesting to be added to the mailing and monthly newsletter list. visit us at schooltimeseries.com and facebook.com/schooltimeseries.

Popejoy HallPopejoy hall is New mexico’s premier nonprofit venue for the performing arts and entertainment. our misssion is to provide access to the performing arts for all New mexicans.

Etiquettethe inside of a theatre is called a “house” and to get along, have fun, and enjoy the shows, there are rules to follow. schooltime provides a wonderful opportunity to learn how good behavior in a live theater is different from watching television at home. For guidelines to practice with your class and chaperones go to schooltimeseries.com/house-policies.

House PoliciesPlease visit our website for detailed information about House Policies. this includes our guidelines on safety, special needs, food and drink, backpacks, cell phones, photography, recordings, and more.

credits Dreamcatchers are teaching Guides produced by the education Department of Popejoy hall, albuquerque, New mexico. selected Dreamcatcher teaching Guide materials provided by Lightwire Theater, Puppets Now, HowStuffWorks, and other resources noted within this guide.

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the university of new Mexicothe Los alamos National Bank Popejoy schooltime series is a program of the University of New mexico.

SchooltimeSER IES

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P o P e J oy h a L L : U N i v e r s i t y F o U N D e D ~ C O M M u N I T y F u N d E d

the Schooltime Series is a proud member of

the lANB Popejoy Schooltime Series is supported in part by

awards from:

the eugene & marion castiglia Popejoy

children’s schooltime endowment

the Popejoy schooltime education endowment