Comstock Park — Naomi Hodges had her eye on the lion — or rather, the lion part — in the school’s annual second-grade musical, “It’s A Jungle Out There.”
“(I wanted the role) because I like being a singer and a talker, and love making faces and acting out, and my personality is sassy and stuff,” said the Stoney Creek Elementary second-grader.
Music teacher Amanda Hite confirmed that Naomi got the role, which was the lead, because of those skills.
“She had memorized her parts so quickly,” Hite said. “She must have been practicing every night, because she had a lot of parts.”
Hite added that the second-grade musical has become almost a rite of passage for students, many of whom remember the show well into their high-school years and beyond.
More Than a Performance
According to Michigan Merit Curriculum music standards, second-graders are expected to demonstrate a range of skills, including singing, reading rhythms, improvising on instruments and following a conductor.
Through the second-grade performance, students also meet theater standards by creating and adapting acting roles to portray a story with a clear problem and solution, Hite said.
Students contribute to developing the storyline — helping choreograph scenes, choosing props, and offering ideas for set design — making the entire production both educational and memorable, she said.
This year’s performance was inspired by a play Hite originally staged in 2007, which featured a basic storyline and five songs. With the students’ input, the production expanded significantly.
“I’ll suggest ideas like, ‘What about the zebra song?’ or ‘Could we do something with soap and water?’ and then ask them how those could fit into the story,” she said.
One number, “Where’s the Tiger?” — inspired by artwork from French artist André Rousseau — took a collaborative twist when a student suggested including a line about a staff member.
“Someone said ‘Mrs. Austin knows about that!’” Hite said. “So I said, ‘Great, let’s include a line about Mrs. Austin. Who wants to say that?’ and they raised their hands and came up with their own ideas.”
The experience “really brings together a lot of different aspects of learning, such as writing, creativity and collaboration that help to bring the play to life,” Hite explained.
Every Talent Has Its Place
For Colton Bandstra, the highlight was performing glow-in-the-dark butterfly wing movements, he said.
Hadley East agreed that it was fun to be able to perform in the dark.
“I liked that I got to do a backflip,” said Hadley, who added that she takes gymnastics lessons.
Hite said another key aspect of the production is aligning each student’s talents with their role in the show.
“There was a girl who didn’t want to be a speaker, but I knew she was an artist, so I asked her to draw the entire front cover,” Hite said. “One person literally turned on the bubble machine. That was their job, so that they would feel they have an important part: ‘If I don’t come, that bubble machine will not get turned on.’”
The goal, she said, is to make every student feel like a vital part of the show.
“I always try to make people feel special so that they really want to come to the performance,” she said.
Beyond the music and acting, Hite said, the experience builds valuable life skills.
“It takes a lot of nerve,” she said about getting on stage and performing. “In most jobs, it’s going to translate to something like giving a presentation to a boss. I think it’s a great life skill.”
Read more from Comstock Park:
• For real, she dances a fine reel
• Symphony visit all about sharing the music
