Additional Reading

4th-6th Grade Play

The 4th-6th class writes, produces and performs an original play every year in May. The process of writing our plays was developed by Norah Dooley and the class teachers and has continued with the Village School teachers since then. The children draw on their understanding of the year's theme subject, based on both fiction and non fiction sources, to choose a focus for the annual play. Under the guidance of the class teacher they start the writing process with a series of short writing exercises and improvisations. Next they produce their own scripts for each scene, again using research and improvisation. Teachers then take each child's script and create a place for characters and lines, choosing the most appropriate lines for each scene. The resulting composite script is adjusted throughout the rehearsal process, so the children experience the whole process of writing and staging a play. Music and songs are chosen, when possible, from contemporary sources. The students create the set at the Royalston Town Hall and perform the play twice in public, with lighting and a full set. The play is a strong unifying unforgettable event for the students.