Paxson Elementary students

performances bring tall tales,

fables and mythology to life
By ALICE MILLER
of the Missoulian
chool didnt come easily to Rae Brown, but her ffth-
grade teachers use of puppets and marionettes in the
classroom made learning fun.
This was a place that I got to excel and shine, Brown
said.
With 23 years as a teacher under her belt, shes instilling
the same love of learning in her own students at Paxson
Elementary School.
She began using puppets and marionettes in her classroom
seven years ago as part of her fnal project for her masters
degree.
This week, students in each of Paxsons three fourth-grade
classrooms used puppets and marionettes in performances
of the tall tales, mythology and fables about which theyve
learned this spring.
One of Browns team of teachers, Kelli Van Noppen, said
her students have enjoyed the project.
All different levels of readers are able to access it, she
said, adding the project has also encouraged shy kids to be
more outgoing.
Students made props and their own marionettes and hand
puppets based on characters they learned about in class.
Each student was given free rein on how to dress their
character and how to portray them in performances.
Elena Vesovich said she enjoyed being creative when
forming her marionette, but said it was a precise process to
make sure strings were attached properly so it would work.
Like many of her classmates, she is excited to perform for
her parents later this week to show off two months of work.
We had to be responsible and memorize our lines,
Vesovichs classmate, Mekhi Davis, said.
They also learned what a tall tale is and how some of the
characters were grounded in truth.
But they exaggerated, Joseph Mambo said.
Fittingly, its like a lot of drama, Davis added.
While putting together the short scripted performances,
S
Puppet playhouse
Paxson Elementary
School fourth-grader
Mabel DeGrandpre
works a puppet in a show
put on in teacher Rae
Browns class Tuesday.
The shows were derived
from tall tales, mythology
and fables.
students learned Common Core standards, as well as perseverance,
teamwork, and speaking and listening skills, Brown said.
She added she hopes they take away another lesson, too:
Learning can be really fun.
Reporter Alice Miller 523-5251 or at alice.miller@missoulian.com.Copyright 2014 missoulian.com. All rights reserved. Material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Browns students wait until their role in the show comes up. Students in the class made their own
puppets and marionettes.
WEDNESDAY, May 21, 2014 Copyright 2014 $1