FIFTH GRADE

Each class will decide if they want to perform:

• about five short plays of Himalayan stories only
• 2-3 short Himalayan stories that they match with a familiar story (see the Connections page)
• 1-2 longer plays usisng the whole class (about 25 students)
• 1 Himalayan story and one related familiar story each using half the class

After they choose the format, they will choose their play(s).

One of the stories to choose from is "The King Stands Up," which can be found in The Three Boys and Other Buddhist Folktales from Tibet. In the story, the king wants to find the most clever person in his country. He sits down and challenges them to make him stand up. Many learned people try, but it is a young boy that succeeds and becomes the Chief Minister and wins half of the king's wealth.

Groups/casts will be chosen by the play and part they want to perform. I don't audition for class plays. At this age, as often as possible, students should be able to perform the part they want. When students feel strongly about doing the same part, I might double cast or have them each do part of the play.

Some students can be on the backstage crew and run lights, help with props, sound effects, music, etc.

Each student will make a Tibetan prayer flag to hang for the set, connecting them in the appropriate color order. Students with smaller parts can make any extra needed to complete the sequence.

These plays will be performed in the classroom for parents and other classes over a series of days. That means the program can only be about 20 minutes as they need to get into costume and set the stage, perform, and put everything back in place in 50 minutes.