Join us for the 2019-20 Season as we explore

the themes of our heritage, belonging and

finding connections to one another through

the arts. As we journey through this season

of educational programming, take a moment

to discover what your heritage means to you.

From lesson ideas and professional

development workshops to backstage tours,

allow us to partner with you to provide

students with exciting educational

opportunities!

For questions contact the education sales

department at (920) 730-3726 or

educationsales@foxcitiespac.com.

Welcome | 3

Standards and About | 4

Lesson Plans | 5

Did You Know | 5

In the Spotlight | 7

What is Next | 8

My Journal | 9

Student Showcase | 10

Resource Room | 11

Sharing our heritage

A note from our Series Title Partner – Amcor

"The music, the voices, and the dramatic action of the performances presented through the Amcor Education Series, all help to animate the lessons our K-12

students are taught every day in the classroom. Amcor supports the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center's Education Series because live performance expands our understanding of textbook learning and helps us imagine the world beyond the written page. We believe every child should have the opportunity to experience the wonder of history, adventure, human drama and other cultures, coming to

life right before them on stage. The Education Series performances spark a child's imagination and ignite the desire to know more."

Community Partners

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• Be prepared to arrive early – You should plan on arriving

to the Center 15-30 minutes before the show. Allow for

travel time, parking and trips to the restroom.

• Security – All bags entering the building are subject to

search and prohibited items will not be allowed. Teachers

and chaperones are discouraged from bringing bags,

however, necessary backpacks, or bags may be searched

and tagged before being allowed in the theater.

We ask that students leave their backpacks at school

for Amcor Education Series performances, however,

if students do bring them, they are subject to search

and will need to be checked at the registration table in

the lobby upon entry.

• Know your needs – To best serve the needs of you and

your students, please indicate if you have individuals who

require special services or seating needs upon making your

reservation.

• Seating – Seating is based on a number of factors

including when the reservation is made, size of group,

students’ ages and any special seating needs.

• Please see our complete list of policies at foxcitiespac.com.

• Questions about your show reservation? Contact our

education sales team at educationsales@foxcitiespac.com

or call (920) 730-3726.

• When entering the Fox Cities Performing Arts

Center, remember to show respect for others

and your environment so everyone can fully

enjoy and participate in the experience.

• During the performance, the performers can see

and hear you so give them your full attention.

Unlike a video, we can not rewind and replay a

scene if we miss it.

• Applause is the best way to express how much

you enjoyed the performance!

• Important things to remember:

• Student backpacks, gum, beverages

(including water bottles) and food are

not allowed in the theater.

• Cell phones should be turned off

and stowed.

• Note that recording or taking photos in

the theater is strictly prohibited;

however, photos may be taken in the

lobby.

• It’s a long way down – please do not

drop items off balconies.

Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia has been in

continuous operation since it was founded in 1972.

Mermaid Theatre is best known for unique stage

adaptations of children’s beloved literary classics. Through

innovative puppetry, striking scenic effects, evocative

original music and gentle storytelling, Mermaid Theatre

has travelled and been applauded all over the world. The

company’s choice of material is based on the belief that

young people can benefit substantially both in their

emotional and aesthetic development from early exposure

to literature, the arts and the power of imagination.

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To assist you in your planning, the Wisconsin Academic Standards that are most likely to connect

with this performance are listed below.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.2: Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media

and formats, including visually, quantitatively and orally.

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.3: Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of

evidence and rhetoric.

SOCIAL STUDIES• SS.BH1: Wisconsin students will examine individual cognition, perception, behavior and identity

(Psychology).

• SS.BH2: Wisconsin students will investigate and interpret interactions between individuals and groups

(Sociology).

SCIENCE• SCI.LS3.B.1: Individuals of the same kind of plant or animal are recognizable as similar but can also

vary in many ways.

• SCI.LS4.D.2: There are many different kinds of living things in any area, and they exist in different

places on land and in water.

THEATER• TP.R.1.e: Analysis: Respond to a theatrical work by sharing what is seen, heard and/or felt.

• TD.CONNECT: Students will relate prior knowledge and personal experience with theater to cultural

and historical contexts.

PHOTO

Source: www.mermaidtheatre.ca

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OBJECTIVE:

Students will reflect upon what it means to share.

MATERIALS:

• “The Rainbow Fish” by Marcus Pfister

• Dot stickers (pieces of paper can be utilized instead,

place tape on back for transferring)

• Outline of fish (pg. 6)

• Coloring utensils

ACTIVITY:

1. Read the story “The Rainbow Fish” by Marcus

Pfister. While reading the book, discuss with

students the importance of sharing with others.

a. Guiding Questions:

i. What is sharing?

ii. How does it make your feel when

you share with others?

iii. How do you feel when a friend

doesn’t share with you?

2. Give each student five dot stickers and fish outline.

3. Have the student decorate all the stickers the same

way.

4. Split the students up into groups of four to trade

stickers with.

a. Make sure they keep one of their stickers to

place on their own fish.

5. Have them color the rest of their fish.

6. Closing Discussion:

1. Do you like your fish?

2. What do you like about the different fish in

the class?

3. Do you think the fish look better with all

the different stickers?

4. How did you feel giving your friends your

stickers?

PHOTO

Marcus Pfister does most of his illustrations for children’s books in watercolors.

He begins each book by stretching watercolor paper over a wooden board so that it will

not warp when wet. He then copies his rough sketches onto the paper in pencil. At this

point, he is ready to begin painting. For backgrounds and blended contours, he uses wet

paint on wet paper to get a softer effect. For sharper details, he first lets the paper dry,

then paints the final picture layer by layer. When the illustration is complete, he cuts the

paper from the wooden board.

Source: www.scholastic.com/teachers/authors/marcus-pfister/

The first of three tales introduces the most

beautiful fish in the sea, whose scales shimmer

in all the colors of the rainbow. He is admired –

and resented – by the entire underwater world,

until a clever octopus advises him to give each

fish one of his scales. Further adventures

follow as the Rainbow Fish finds the courage to

explore the great unknown deep sea,

discovering a new world with wonderful sights

and friendly creatures of all shapes, sizes and

colors who are eager to make his acquaintance.

The underworld wonderland is the setting for

an introduction to the concept of opposites. As

a fitting finale, the story ends with the most

satisfying opposite of all – give and take – as

Rainbow Fish shares one of his shining scales

with a friend.

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Marcus Pfister was born in Bern, Switzerland and began

his career as a graphic artist in an advertising agency. In

1983, he left his job to dedicate more time to his art and

began to write and illustrate books. His first book, “The

Sleepy Owl”, was published in 1986. He is most famous for

his book “The Rainbow Fish” which has been on a

bestseller list across the United States since its publication

in 1992.

PHOTO

OBJECTIVE:

The students will utilize knowledge gained from the performance to enhance their learning, then practice their

research skills and share their knowledge with their classmates.

MATERIALS:

• Books based on the ocean’s animals

• Computer for research, if necessary

• Paper

• Coloring utensils

• “The Rainbow Fish Discovers the Deep Sea” by Marcus Pfister

ACTIVITY:

1. After seeing the production of The Rainbow Fish at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, discuss with your

class the various animals that appeared on stage.

a. Make a list of the various animals, using “The Rainbow Fish Discovers the Deep Sea” as a point of

reference if needed.

2. Have students break up into partners and choose an animal to look up from the list.

a. Have them find 3-5 facts on that specific animal.

3. Students should draw a picture of their animal and write the facts either on the same side as their picture or

on the back.

4. When the students have finished, bring them back together and share their animals with their class.

5. Closing Questions:

a. How did Rainbow Fish’s friends feel about the deep ocean?

b. Were the fish in the deep ocean mean and scary, or kind and helpful?

c. How should we act when we meet new people?

Source: www.scholastic.com/teachers/authors/marcus-pfister/

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Don’t let this experience end with the drop of the curtain. Keep the conversation

going with your students and reflect on the performance that you just attended.

Here are a few questions to get the conversation started!

• What did you learn about kindness, generosity or friendship from this performance?

• What was your favorite part of the performance?

• Which moment do you remember most from the performance? What was happening?

• How did the Rainbow Fish learn how to share?

• Describe the music you heard. How did the music add to the mood or help tell the story?

• If you were going to tell a friend about the performance, how would you describe it in one sentence?

• On the following page write or draw about something you learned or want to learn more about.

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Fox Cities Performing Arts Center • Education Department

400 W. College Avenue • Appleton, WI 54911

education@foxcitiespac.com • (920) 730-3726 11

This study guide was created for you by the Education Team as a part of The Boldt Company Beyond the

Stage education program. To download copies of this study guide or to find additional resources for this

performance or view past study guides please visit: www.foxcitiespac.com.

BOOKSIf you enjoyed this story, try these books by Marcus Pfister

• “You Can’t Win Them All, Rainbow Fish”

• “Rainbow Fish to the Rescue!”

• “Hopper”

• “Penguin Pete and Pat”

• “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein

• “Corduroy” by Don Freeman

• “Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes” by James Dean

• “Miss Nelson is Missing!” by Harry Allard

• “The Grouchy Ladybug” by Eric Carle

• “The Mitten” by Jan Brett

WEBSITES• The Rainbow Fish and Marcus Pfister: rainbowfish.us/marcus-pfister/

• Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia: www.mermaidtheatre.ca

• Arts Edge Kennedy Center Arts Integration: http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org

• Teaching Tolerance: www.tolerance.org