Special Educational Needs Resource Pack

Written by Rosie Emanuel For Mousetrap Theatre Projects

© April 2012

Materials customized for LHS with permission. February 2014.

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Introduction Welcome to the SEN Teacher & Family Resource Pack for Shrek The Musical. The aim

of this pack is to help you prepare your young people for their visit to the theatre and

enhance their enjoyment and understanding of the show. This pack is designed for use

with children and young people who may have a range of needs, including sensory

impairments. This pack therefore aims to encourage a multi-sensory approach, which

is accessible to all learning styles and needs.

In this booklet you will find a range of worksheets and activities to use with your

young people. Some are designed as pre-show activities, whilst others are more

suitable for post-show work after the event. However, this is only a guide so feel free

to use the resources flexibly, depending on your needs.

A rating of EASY or INTERMEDIATE has been applied to the activites as a guide. In

addition, where appropriate, there are guidelines on how to adapt an activity for

those with additional communication or sensory needs.

The Visual Story, which can be downloaded from

www.lbertyunion.schoolwires.net/playmakers, is a tool to be used with the young

people directly and can be browsed at home, left in the classroom or worked into a

specific lesson. The idea of this resource is to offer more visual learners an insight

into what they might expect from the experience of attending the theatre. It might

be a useful tool to take on the trip to remind students of what will happen next,

especially for those who need support with new experiences.

We hope that this pack is a beneficial tool as you prepare your young people for their

visit to Shrek The Muscial.

Enjoy the show!

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Access Information

The Allan E. Jones Performing Arts Center is on the campus of Liberty High School in Brentwood. The entrance to the theater is off

the front parking lot at 850 2nd Street.

If the front parking lot is full, you can find another lot at the back of the theater off Spruce Street.

Purchase tickets at the theater box office, or pickup pre-ordered tickets at the will-call table.

Inside the theater there will be staff to welcome you, give you a

program and help you find your assigned seat.

There is an accessible wheelchair lift and ample wheelchair seating.

In the lobby you can purchase toys and gifts. You can also pre-purchase DVDs & photo CDs.

There will be a 20-minute intermission where you can use the

bathroom and purchase drinks & snacks.

If your child is restless and needs to move about, please go out to the lobby or use our “time-out” room to relax in bean bag chairs and

watch the performance on a TV screen.

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Activity: Visual Story

Use the Visual Story provided to begin preparing your young people for their theatre visit.

You could either read it in a group, or copy the booklet so that each child has their own version.

Once the young people have had a chance to look through the Visual Story, copy the worksheet on page 6 and ask them to fill it in individually. They might use ideas about what they may see on stage such as lighting effects, costumes and actors (see Glossary of Theatre Terms on page 10 for more information).

Discuss what they are expecting from the production. Prompt

with questions such as:

o Do you know anything about the story? o Can you name any characters from the story? o What does the title of the show suggest? o Do you think it will be funny/sad/exciting? o Do you know any of the music? o Have you seen the film? o What are you most looking forward to about the trip?

Preparing for the Theatre Visit

The production images at the

end of the pack may help visual learners to begin thinking about

what they are going to see.

You could use your own emotion cards to

support this activity.

PRE-SHOW ACTIVITIES

EASY

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Theatre Trip Worksheet

This is what I might do and see at the theatre…

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Activity: Code of Conduct

• Before you come to the show, you may wish to develop a Code of Conduct. Use the diagram below as a template and ask the young people to think about what kind of behaviour is appropriate at the theatre and why. Try to make your Code of Conduct positive by using ‘we will...’ rather than ‘do not...’

• Here are some ideas to get you started: o We will stay close together and remain with the group at all times o We will be quiet during the performance o We will turn off mobile phones during the performance o We will listen and follow instructions carefully

Our Code of Conduct

EASY

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Activity: Imaginary Trip If your group is keen on drama then this activity is a good way of helping them to prepare for the trip. It is especially good for learners who prefer ‘doing’ rather than reading, writing or talking. Invite the group to form a circle and to take turns to share one thing they might

take with them on the trip, e.g. camera, water, raincoat, snacks. Invite them to place their items in an imaginary bag.

Now act out taking whichever mode of transport you will use. You can add sound effects and movement if appropriate, or use gym mats as props.

Ask someone to be in role as a map-reader and pretend to make the journey to

the theatre. You may wish to sing a song or add some group movement to make this more fun.

Once you ‘arrive’ at the theatre, you can role-play finding your seats and getting

ready for the show to start. You could make pretend tickets for each child. Use a visual or auditory cue to practice applause and silence.

You could even review your ‘Code of Conduct’ by getting a participant to go into

role as someone in the audience who gets ‘cross’ when they are noisy.

Try and get hold of a real map as a prop if possible, or copy the map

included in the visual story.

If your students are sensitive to light or sound then incorporate this into the drama. You might want to warn the group about the darkness

in the theatre, bright lights and sounds of music and applause.

INTERMEDIATE

If you are coming to the show as a family then try this activity at home, using as many people as you can find!

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Activity: Elements of Theatre

This activity allows the young people to think about what is needed to create a piece of theatre. It will help them to become familiar with what they are going to experience in advance of the performance, and will teach them about how theatre is made.

Look together at the Glossary of Theatre Terms on page 10 and talk through each

symbol in turn until they have an understanding of each element.

Now copy the worksheet on page 11 and give one to each child.

Work through each picture and see if they can remember what each image represents. (Be aware that some images are quite similar to others).

Once they have established the correct meaning, ask them to write a title and

description under each image. This can be in their own words based on what they have learnt and remembered from the discussion.

Working with Visual Impairments If you are working with visual impairments, you could create a multi-sensory version of this activity by finding a kinaesthetic or auditory way to represent each aspect. Here are some suggestions: Lighting: Pass round a flashlight and allow them to press the on/off switch. Sound: Play some sound effects or pass around a musical instrument. Costume/props: Pass around some costume pieces or props to feel. Actors: Encourage them to have a go at acting/dancing or making frozen pictures of what an actor or dancer might do. Stage: Create a platform that can be stepped onto. Invite students up on the stage one at a time and encourage the rest of the group to applaud. Audience: Act out being an audience by setting up seats in front of a ‘stage’. Practice being quiet and then using applause.

For a simpler version of this activity, copy the chart on page 11 and call out the name of one element of the theatre. Ask the young people to

circle which picture they think best represents the word you have described (with support). They can then write the word under the image.

INTERMEDIATE

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A Glossary of Theatre Terms

During the show you will hear a lot of different sounds which are

controlled from the back of the theatre. During the show the lighting operator will stand behind a

desk and change the lights when needed.

The actors and dancers spend weeks rehearsing what they need to

do on stage, ready for the performance. The director makes sure that everyone involved in the show

knows what they are doing.

Before the show begins, the actors get into costume and check that

all their props are in the right place. The audience members watch the performance and show their support by clapping at the end of a song or scene.

The stage has a set which helps create a setting for the story. The

actors perform on the stage. The Stage Manager is in charge of the stage and makes sure

that the show runs smoothly every night.

SOUND

DIRECTOR

LIGHTS

ACTORS AND

DANCERS

AUDIENCE COSTUMESAND PROPS

STAGE STAGE MANAGER

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Elements of Theatre Worksheet

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Plot Synopsis

In a kingdom called Duloc, a little ogre called Shrek

is sent away by his parents to live all alone. He finds a stinky swamp

to live in and soon becomes a big ogre.

Everyone is scared of him and he has no friends.

Shrek learns to like being alone and gets angry if anyone disturbs him.

One day, Shrek finds a big group of upset Fairytale

Creatures on his land. He tells them to go away, but they will not leave. They tell him they have been

sent away by the evil (and very small) Lord Farquaad for being ‘freaks’. Shrek has no choice but to visit Lord Farquaad and ask for

his land back.

On his way to visit Lord Farquaad, Shrek meets a

frightened talking Donkey, who tries to make friends

with him. At the palace, Lord Farquaad realises he must

marry a Princess if he wants to be King. He tells Shrek that he can have his land back if he rescues the Princess from a far-away tower, guarded by

a dragon.

Shrek agrees to rescue the Princess and sets off on his journey with Donkey. They

meet the dragon who falls in love with Donkey and

forgets to guard the tower. Shrek rescues the Princess.

Princess Fiona has been waiting for many years to be rescued by a Prince. When she sees that Shrek is an orgre, she is very upset.

Shrek, Fiona and Donkey

begin making their journey back to Duloc so

that Fiona can marry Lord Farquaad. At night, Fiona

hides in a cave so that Shrek and Donkey don’t

notice her secret: she has been cursed. Every night she turns into an ogre, just like Shrek. In the

morning she becomes a Princess again, so her

secret is safe.

The next night, Donkey realises that Shrek and

Fiona are falling in love. Fiona hides in her cave

once again and turns into an ogre, but Donkey finds

her and the secret is revealed. Donkey tries to convince Fiona to talk to Shrek about her feelings.

Shrek overhears Fiona talking about being ugly

and thinks she is describing him, rather

than herself.

It is the day of the wedding and Fiona and Shrek are not talking to each other. Lord Farquaad comes to greet

Fiona and they decide to get married the same day, despite her feelings for

Shrek. Donkey tries to get Shrek to understand the mistake he has made and

convinces Shrek to tell Fiona how he really feels. Shrek

finally listens and runs to the cathedral as fast as he can.

Just in time, Shrek tells Fiona the truth. As the sun

sets, Fiona turns into an ogre in front of everyone.

Lord Farquaad is disgusted. The Fairytale Creatures

come in and reveal that Lord Farquaad is actually the son

of a dwarf and therefore just like them. He is furious.

Just in time, the dragon comes in and saves the day. Fiona and Shrek share true-

love’s first kiss and live happily ever after.

Use this as a template for a visual storyboard activity. Provide a table containing eight boxes

as below. Then, as you read each section of the story, ask the young people to draw an image to represent each part of the story.

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Key Characters

Shrek

Donkey

Princess Fiona

Lord Farquaad

Dragon

Fairytale Creatures

Use these images to think about each character in turn. Get your young people to consider what each character might be thinking or

feeling at the moment the picture was taken.

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Activity: All About Fairytales

The story of Shrek is a modern-day fairytale. The worksheets below will help your young people to think about fairytales: what they are, characters and setting.

• First, copy the worksheet on page 15 and talk to your young people about what

fairytales are. You might want to use the Internet or some storybooks to help you. Now ask them to complete the worksheet, with support if necessary.

• Once they have had a chance to think about fairytale characters and settings, copy the second worksheet on page 16 and invite them to make up their own fairytale character, giving it a name and a home.

Extension Activity: Story Writing

• If your young people are confident with writing, you could get them to write a character description or even make up a story containing their character.

Activity: The Swamp Shrek lives in a swamp outside the Kingdom of Duloc. He lives all alone and nobody goes to visit him. This activity will help your young people to think about what it’s like to live in a swamp and will get them thinking about how Shrek feels.

• Talk to your young people about why Shrek lives in a swamp and what it might be

like to live there. Ask, “Why might he want to live there all alone?”

• Copy the worksheet on page 17 and think together about what you can see in the picture.

• Now, encouraging your young people to think about all their senses, write some

adjectives in the bubbles to describe what the swamp might be like.

Setting & Environment

EASY

INTERMEDIATE

EASY

To create a multi-sensory version of this activity, you could get some real mud to smell and touch. If there is a risk of

them putting it in their mouths then you could use wet corn flour and brown food colouring instead.

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Find out about fairytales and then fill in the spaces below with your ideas!

Fairytale Facts Worksheet

A fairytale is…

Some fairytale stories I know are…

You might find these characters in a fairytale…

Fairytale characters might live in a…

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Use this space to draw your own fairytale character. Give them a name and a

place to live by filling in the spaces in the speech bubble.

Fairytale Character Worksheet

Hello! My name is… And I live in a…

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Shrek lives in a swamp like the one in this picture.

Can you describe what it might be like to live there?

Picture by Andree Wallin

(http://andreewallin.deviantart.com/)

Swamp Worksheet

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Themes Language to pre-teach The following themes may be useful to think about before attending the show. Look at each theme in turn and ask your young people to consider how and when each theme is relevant in the story of Shrek. Below are some activities to help you start exploring the themes of the show.

LOVE

FRIENDSHIP

INCLUSION

ACCEPTANCE

COURAGE

POWER

DREAMS

HOME

These words can be programmed into communication aids so that those with

communication devices can interact more easily with discussions.

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Activity: The Kingdom

This role-play drama game is easily adaptable to the needs of any group and allows your young people to explore the theme of power and status. Start by looking at the character of Lord Farquaad and thinking about why he wants to be so powerful.

You will need: o A crown or cape o A chair to be a ‘throne’

• Explain to the group that they are now going to meet a very important Lord.

• Ask someone to come forward and take their place as Lord (tell them that

everyone will have a turn at this). Help them to put on the crown or cape, before taking a seat on the ‘throne’.

• Now announce to the others that they must come forward and bow to their Lord

(you could do this as a group, or one by one). As they bow down, encourage the child playing the Lord to show his importance using body language. You could even ask if he has anything to say to the people in the Kingdom. Extension Activity: Good or Bad Lord

• Once you have a Lord in place, tell the others that they must bring the Lord

some kind of gift. This could be an imaginary object such as jewels/food/treasure, or a song/dance, for example.

• Either individually or in small groups, the ‘guests’ come up to offer their gift to

the Lord. The child playing the Lord can decide if he or she is ‘good’ or ‘bad’. If they choose to be ‘bad’ then they can send all of the guests to a ‘dungeon’ after offering the gift. If they are ‘good’ then they can invite the guests to a feast in the Kingdom.

• It is a good idea to allow everyone a turn at being Lord (and say this from the

outset), so that each child has the chance to experience how it feels to be in a position of power. After the game, ask the group to think about how it felt to have power over others.

Finish by discussing what kind of Lord they think Farquaad might be, and why.

INTERMEDIATE

If you are trying this activity at home then how about allowing your young person to

be a Lord for a whole mealtime!

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Activity: Future Dreams While Princess Fiona is locked in the tower, she dreams about her future and what might lie ahead. This activity encourages the young people to think about their own dreams for the future.

• Use the worksheet on page 21 to explore the idea of future dreams.

• Invite someone to read out loud the lyrics written at the top of the sheet, from Shrek The Musical. Ask the group who might sing these words and why.

• Get them to think about the dreams of the different characters in the story

(using the plot synopsis to help you).

• Now focus on the dreams of Princess Fiona and ask your young people to write a poem or some words in the box provided on the worksheet, describing their own future dreams and wishes. Invite them to share their work with others.

Activity: A Place Called Home

Shrek dreams about having his swamp back, after it is invaded by fairytale creatures. Home is very important to Shrek. Use the following game to help your young people think about what’s important in their own homes.

• After looking at the image of the swamp and discussing what Shrek’s home is like,

ask your young people to think about their own homes.

• Ask two people to make the shape of a house/arch with their bodies.

• Now invite people to come up one-by-one and make a frozen image of something in their home that is important to them. This could be their parents, siblings or pet, or objects such as a favourite book or film.

• Ask the rest of the group to guess what they think the image represents.

EASY

INTERMEDIATE

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While Princess Fiona is locked away in a tower, she dreams about her future. What might your future hold? Write your ideas below.

It's a big, bright, beautiful world,

With happiness all around. It's peaches and cream, if a dream comes true…

Future Dreams Worksheet

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Activity: Find Your Courage In order to get his home back, Shrek must be brave and go on a long journey to save Princess Fiona. This activity will help your young people to think about the meaning of courage.

• Start by thinking together with your group about when we might need courage. Perhaps it is when we have to do something alone or when we have to take an important test.

• Once they have come up with ideas about when they need courage, split them into small groups, with assistants to support each group.

• Ask each group to choose one idea about when courage is needed and make

a frozen picture of this moment using their bodies as a whole group.

• Someone in the group should represent being courageous in the picture.

• Now show the frozen pictures to the rest of the group and get them to think about:

o Who is showing courage in the picture o What might be happening in the picture

• Finish the activity by asking the groups to make another frozen picture of when Shrek has to show courage in the story and share these with everyone.

Activity: Being Me It takes Shrek and Princess Fiona a long time to learn to accept each other for what they are. But when they do, it is a happy ending! Use the worksheet on page 23 to think about the themes of acceptance, difference and inclusion.

• Copy the worksheet over the page and give one to each child. Ask them to start by drawing their face, thinking about what makes them unique.

• Now support them to write facts about themselves in the arrows, considering what makes them special and different from others.

• Once everyone has completed the worksheet, get them to swap with a friend

and present their ‘partner’ to the group, using the worksheet as reference.

INTERMEDIATE

EASY

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This worksheet asks you to think about what is special about being YOU. Think about how you are different from others and what makes you unique. Start by drawing your face and then write some facts about

yourself inside the arrows.

POST-SHOW ACTIVITY

Being Me Worksheet

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Activity: Reflections After the show it can be a really useful exercise to reflect on their experience and share their thoughts and ideas with each other.

• Ask the young people to verbalize their thoughts about the show. You might want to prompt with a question, for example:

o Can you describe your favorite moment? o Who was your favorite character and why? o How did the show make you feel? o Was there anything that you didn’t like about the show?

In addition to verbalizing their reflections, they could also make a poster of their reflections to be placed on a notice board. Extension Activity: Be a Theatre Critic

• If your young people have strong literacy skills then encourage them to take their reflections one step further by writing a review. Invite them to think critically as well as saying what they enjoyed.

• Here are some questions which might help:

o What did you feel when you first entered the theatre? o How did you feel when the orchestra started to play? o Which parts made you feel happy, sad or excited? o What did you think of the actors and dancers? o Did you like the lighting and set? o What could have been done better? o Would you recommend others to see Shrek The Musical?

INTERMEDIATE