MOT Learns at Home
Michigan Opera Theatre (MOT) is proud to share "MOT Learns at Home," a new initiative for teachers, parents, and students which connects the arts with at-home learning!
Each Friday there will be a new lesson designed to guide your students into the worlds of H.M.S. Pinafore and The Very Last Green Thing, while also connecting to Science and English Language Arts curriculum.
By downloading these lessons, these google forms may be added to the learning platform of your choice or shared directly with your students.
Check out the Unit Plan for a preview of learning objectives conveniently written in "I can" statements, lesson activities, and extensions!
Come back each Friday to download the next lesson.
LESSON 1: WHAT IS OPERA?
In this lesson, students will first activate their prior knowledge. Then, through exposure to more information contained on the form, they will build a more accurate and complete definition of opera using content specific vocabulary. By downloading these lessons, these google forms may be added to the learning platform of your choice or shared directly with your students. By clicking "What students will see" you will be able to preview the materials prior to downloading them. In addtion to the main lesson, there is a also a fun word scramble that will allow your students to practice content specific vocabulary.
LESSON 2: HMS Pinafore: Rhythm and Rhyme
Students will discover what makes operetta unique as an art form, and learn a bit about the composer and librettist of HMS Pinafore. They will explore the structure of Pinafore’s rhyme schemes and rhythms, engaging with the text as a singer would and working on getting two lines of Gilbert’s rather verbose libretto up to tempo. Finally, they will write their own Gilbert & Sullivan-esque couplets.
LESSON 3: The Very Last Green Thing
This lesson set offers many opportunities to engage your students. The first google form tests their reading comprehension while engaging them with the plot of The Very Last Green Thing. In the spirit of the opera there are also opportunities to engage with the "green things" around us through the creation of a "Botanist's Notebook" and virtual tours of Belle Isle and the US Botanic Gardens. The final form takes students on a webquest to explore local organizations involved in current conservation efforts.
By downloading these lessons, these google forms may be added to the learning platform of your choice or shared directly with your students. By clicking "What students will see" you will be able to preview the materials prior to downloading them.
LESSON 4: Creating a Digital Opera
In this computer science connected lesson, you will find materials to discuss the issue of latency and how productions like ours work to overcome it! Included here is an experiment for students to do at home! By downloading these lessons, this google form may be added to the learning platform of your choice or shared directly with your students. By clicking "What students will see" you will be able to preview the materials prior to downloading them.
LESSON 5: Creating a Digital Opera
After watching the MOTCC Digital Opera students will write a review of the opera.
MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE’S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
The Department of Education and Community Programs has brought its varied musical programs to every age group in Michigan for nearly 40 years. Artists visit schools, community centers, and stages throughout Michigan, performing shows that range from lively children’s operas to musical revues. Founded by Karen V. DiChiera, the Department of Education and Community Programs serves the entire state with quality entertainment and education.
Since its inception, the Department of Education and Community Programs has been honored with awards and recognitions including the Governor’s Arts Award, a Spirit of Detroit Award, and multiple Philo T. Farnsworth Awards for Excellence in Community Programming, among others. Touring productions, concerts, workshops, and residencies have reached many thousands of people throughout the state of Michigan, and programs have extended as far as Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, and Canada. With an ever-growing repertoire of productions, an exciting roster of up-and-coming singers, and a circle of experienced and passionate teaching artists, the Department of Education and Community Programs continues to provide people of all ages with opportunities for access, growth, and learning through the arts.
MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE CHILDREN'S CHORUS
The mission of the Michigan Opera Theatre Children’s Chorus is to provide exceptional choral music and theatrical performance instruction in a professional environment to young people. This instruction will foster their creativity, personal expression and social growth. Offering a curriculum that embraces diverse cultures and traditions and a rich and extensive range of musical genres, the program will seek to instill personal and artistic excellence in its students. In keeping with its role as a major cultural resource to the entire community, Michigan Opera Theatre will offer these unique learning opportunities to a diverse group of students from varied economic, cultural and social backgrounds.
