What a great job all of the 3rd grade performers at Steward School and Ms. Anderson and Ms. Swanson did in the performance of The Calico Tiger.  All costumes were created by CLIC Program/ Jen LaRussa and the props were created by children on the CLIC Stage Crew at Proctor School.

Besides making absolutely stunning projects, art club and STEAM club work in a similar creative process.  Students learn over and over about the Engineering Design Process in science class, but so rarely get to freely and actively work through the process.  This month especially students who are in both STEAM and Art Club are seeing that an idea starts as a prototype which gets redesigned and then leads to the final product.

Everyone always asks me why STEAM and not STEM Club?  I think that art and the creative process is what makes science and engineering so closely related to the creative process that artists undergo. 

For instance, artists and engineers first come with an idea.  That idea then goes to the messy, prototype stage where you just see what works, what doesn't work.  That idea then gets redesigned or you start over to eventually get to something you want to work further on.
One works out the issues of physically building the project and it is a huge time and money saver. 

When the final project is built, the first prototype is incredibly important.  I have seen how the children look at the prototype as they build the final project, and the difference in the quality is night and day compared to if they just built the final skipping the design/redesign process.

Please come check out the STEAM Club 6 pack can holder packaging projects and Art Club's Endangered Animal projects at the Earth Day event at Proctor School on Friday, April 29, 4-6:00 PM.

I have to say it has been an action packed and exhausting month for CLIC stage crew.  We have been working non-stop preparing for the productions at both Proctor and Steward School.  It is completely worth it to support such talented teachers and children. Every show has been hugely entertaining and people are so impressed by the quality of the productions.  I repeatedly hear that parents are surprised to see their child so engaged on stage singing, dancing, or performing.  Even if a student has no intention to go into theater, this time on stage builds confidence, team work, and the ability to work under pressure. We have been surprised ourselves as educators to see the many hidden facets of the students during the theater process.   

I want to above all mention that having Ms. Swanson as our new music educator has shifted us into a new level of entertainment.  I get to see the way she creates the productions from start to finish, and it is pretty amazing. Did you know Ms. Swanson writes the play dialogue that connects the whole production? She takes songs from many eras and pulls them together under a theme like the solar system, the United States, or the Environment. The productions reinforce the classroom curriculum and the they are so much fun and entertaining for the audience. Above all, the kids love performing on stage because the music is current and engaging, and they know they are an important part of the success of the production. Ms. Swanson rocks!