David Hohn Illustration. davidhohn.com

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1 David Hohn Illustration. davidhohn.com AAC Children s Theatre ACTIVITY GUIDE

2 About this Guide This ACTIVITY GUIDE includes exercises that align with the Arkansas Department of Education Curriculum Frameworks and Common Core State Standards. The following icons provide an immediate recognition of the curriculum connections. ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS FOREIGN LANGUAGES LIBRARY MEDIA MATH MUSIC PHYSICAL EDUCATION & HEALTH SCIENCE SOCIAL STUDIES THEATRE VISUAL ARTS Enjoy!

3 Look at those dogs go fast as the wind blows. About the Play Go, Dog. Go! Just look at those dogs go! Why are they going so fast in those cars? Where are those dogs going? Find out for yourself as the Children s Theatre presents this captivating adaptation of P.D. Eastman s famous canine extravaganza. Watch the stage explode with a delight of color, motion, music, and dogs. Go, Dog. Go! is adapted by Stephen Dietz and Allison Gregory from the original book written by P.D. Eastman. Statement from the AAC Children s Theatre Katie Campbell Director Go, Dog. Go! was one of my favorite childhood books. Even long after graduating to chapter books, I found myself returning to Eastman s pictures again and again. Seeing dogs do human things is always very amusing. I was certain that when my family left the home alone to Peanut, our pet dachshund, that surely he put on my roller skates, borrowed my brother s bike, climbed trees, and wore my mother s Sunday hats when invited to parties. After all, he was a dog on the go. The play adapted from the book invites us to imagine a doggy world full of the simple joys of work and play, of in and out, of over and under, of night and day, and of up and down. Playwrights Allison Gregory and Stephen Dietz say that the goal of their adaptation is to play inside the story to explore the buckets of bliss, wonder, longing and discovery that are waiting for us, for all of us, there. In approaching this production, we are conjuring this sense of playfulness by embracing a circus like environment, with little dialogue and lots of spectacle. By evoking the feeling of a three-ring circus, the dogs are like clowns performing their acts underscored by live musicians and children s raucous laughter. We have had a wonderful adventure creating this show and hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed making it. Play Synopsis P.D. Eastman s classic children s book comes to life on stage in an exploration of movement, color, and music. The dogs delve into life with gusto, creating a visual spectacle for the audience to feast upon. They swim. They howl at the moon. They zoom about in cars. They sing and dance and climb trees. The play s bustle and commotion occasionally pauses for a moment or two of reflection, and then again sweeps us into the whirlwind of these lovable and goofy dogs. About the AUTHOR: P.D. EASTMAN Philip Dey Eastman who wrote under the pen name P.D. Eastman was born November 25, 1909, in Amherst, Massachusetts. He graduated from Amherst College in 1933 then went on to study at the National Academy of Design in New York City. In 1936, Eastman moved to Los Angeles where he began work in the story department of Walt Disney Productions, doing production design and animation. From 1941 to 1943, he worked at Warner Brothers Cartoons. After enlisting into the Army in 1943, Eastman was assigned to the Signal Corps Film unit a unit headed by Theodor Geisel (who would later become known to the world as Dr. Seuss). After World War II, Eastman began work as a writer and storyboard artist at United Productions of America. While there, he helped develop the cartoon character Mr. Magoo, and also adapted Theodor Geisel s children s record, Gerald McBoing Boing, into an Academy Award-winning short film. Eastman was doing freelance comic book and television advertising work in 1954 when he was approached by Geisel to write for a new series of children s books he was starting at Random House called Beginner Books. By the time of his death on January 7, 1986, P.D. Eastman had written and/or illustrated 18 children s books, including Are You My Mother?, Go, Dog. Go!, Sam and the Firefly, and The Best Nest. To date, Random House has sold more than 31 million copies of his books.

4 Review Theatre Etiquette BEFORE THE PLAY Please turn off your cell phones so you can look at all the little things that make live theatre a great big experience. Save all food, gum, candy and drinks for after the performance. They are not allowed in the theater and can be used as a reward for good behavior! Sit like a grown up in your seat. That way you won t miss a thing! Great theatre audiences listen, laugh when something is funny, and clap at just the right time. They never talk out loud during a performance. Keep your cameras tucked away and turned off. Photography is not allowed. Camera flashes blind the actors and can cause them to step off the stage. When the play is over, enjoy talking with your friends and grownups about all the details. See who can remember the most about the play. Start by sharing two things that an actor said that made you smile and two things that you remember about the stage set. Parents: What a great time to have a conversation about the difference between theatre, movies, and TV! Read the Original Story In order to prepare for the play, read the book by P.D. Eastman. Think about how the original story was written. What language was used? How were the characters described? Carefully explore each of the book s colorful illustrations. How do the illustrations help tell the story? Library Media Connection: Read; English Language Arts Reading, Literature: Key Ideas and Details, Integration of Knowledge and Ideas, Craft and Structure About Adaptations The performance that you will see at the AAC Children s Theatre is a variation of the story, or an ADAPTATION. An adaptation is a change made in something so that it can fit a new use. This performance of Go, Dog. Go! is an adaptation of the popular children s book (which is meant to be read) into a play (which is meant to be performed and viewed). Stephen Dietz and Allison Gregory transformed the scenes from the book into a stage production which is now produced and performed by the Children s Theatre. Consider these questions for discussion before you attend the play:? What kinds of things does a PLAYWRIGHT (the person who wrote the play) have to consider when writing the SCRIPT (the written text of the play)?? Describe the characters in the story. What challenges might there be with representing talking animals? What might the characters look like on stage?? What are some PROPS (objects) that the cast might use to help tell the story?? Draw a picture of one of the scenes in the story and imagine how it might appear on the stage.? If you were to write an adaptation of this story into a play, what choices would you make? How would you act out the story? Library Media Connection: Associate; Theatre Creating, Evaluating, Reading

5 PLAY WITH PREPOSITIONS A PREPOSITION (prep-uh-zih-shun) is a word that shows the relationship between a NOUN (a person, place, or thing) or a PRONOUN (a word used in place of a noun) and another word in the sentence. For example, in the sentence, My dog is on the bed, the word on is the preposition; it shows the relationship between the dog and the bed. One way to think of prepositions is to remember that they indicate location. If we change the preposition, we change where the dog is in relation to the bed. Below is a list of prepositions mentioned in Go, Dog. Go! Use your hands to demonstrate each of the prepositions. IN OVER DOWN OUT ON UNDER AROUND UP WHERE IS THE DOG? Circle the preposition. The dog is under the bed. The dog is behind the house. The dog is in the grass. The dog is across the field. ACTIVITY Practice with prepositions by drawing the following scene from the play in the box. One dog was up on a house. Three dogs down in the water. A green dog over a tree A yellow dog under a tree. A dog over the water A dog under the water.? English Language Arts Reading, Foundational Skills: Phonological Awareness, Phonics and Word Recognition; Language: Conventions of Standard English; Visual Arts Creative Processes

6 DURING THE PLAY You have an important role to play! It wouldn t be a play without you! Your part is to pretend that the play is real. Part of this includes accepting certain things: 1. Actors tell the story with words (dialogue), actions (blocking), and songs. 2. Actors may sing songs that tell about the story or their feelings. 3. Actors may speak to the audience. 4. An actor may play several characters by changing their voice, costume, or posture. 5. Places are suggested by panels on the set and by props. HERE S HOW TO PLAY OUR PART: A play is different than television or a movie. The actors are right in front of you and can see your reactions, feel your attention, and hear your laughter and applause. Watch and listen carefully to understand the story. The story is told by the actors and comes to life through your imagination! Review Thank you for being a great part of our audience and enjoy the show! AFTER THE PLAY Do you remember what you learned about adaptations? Now that you have seen the play, discuss these questions. Share your answers with friends or family that also saw the play and compare your experiences.? Were there any characters or events that were in the book but not in the play?? Were there any characters or events that were in the story but not in the play? Were any characters different? Why do you think these choices were made?? What did the set look like? Did it match the picture that you drew before the play? What do you think the set and costume designers need to consider when bringing the story to the stage?? What objects (props) helped tell the story on stage? Library Media Connection: Associate; Theatre Creating, Evaluating, Reading REVIEW Questions Read the following questions and either write your answers or tell someone in complete sentences. Make sure to use correct grammar and spelling.? Name three different activities that the group of dogs did on stage.? Why is the Blue Dog lonely?? Which hat does MC Dog like? Why?? What did the dogs find at the top of the tree?? Who was your favorite character in the play? Why? English Language Arts Writing: Text Type and Purposes; Speaking & Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration; Language: Conventions of Standard English

7 Answers: 1. Four, 2. Six, 3. Eight, 4. Two Writing Exercise Write a brief answer to the following question. Make sure to write in complete sentences and use correct grammar, spelling, and organization. Have you ever wondered what pets do when you are not home? Use your imagination and create a short story about a day in the life of a pet. What does your pet do for fun? Where does it go? What does it eat? Does it go to work? If so, where does it work? Who does it see? Make sure to also draw a picture of your pet doing one of these activities. English Language Arts Writing: Text Types and Purposes; Language: Conventions of Standard English Math with Mutts Practice math by adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing. Carefully read each of the following questions and solve the math problems. Mathematics Operations & Algebraic Thinking RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT 1. Seven dogs began by the tree, but three drove off in a car. How many are left? 2. Three dogs were swimming in the lake when three more joined them. How many dogs are now in the lake? 3. Four dogs are having a snack. They each have two apples. How many total apples do they have? 4. Five dogs are sharing ten slices of pie. How many slices may each dog have? DID YOU KNOW? Dogs are capable of understanding up to 250 words and gestures, can count up to five, and can perform simple mathematical calculations. The average dog is as intelligent as a two-year-old child! How well can you follow directions? In this game, one person plays the STOP LIGHT and the rest try to touch him or her. At the start, all other participants form a line about 15 feet away from the stop light. The stop light faces away from the line and says green light! At this point, the others are allowed to move towards the stop light. At any point, the stop light may say red light! and turn around. If any of the others are caught moving after this has occurred, they are out. Play resumes when the stop light turns back around and says green light! The stop light wins if all the participants are out of the game before anyone is able to touch him or her. Otherwise, the first player to touch the stop light wins the game and earns the right to be the stop light for the next game. Physical Education and Leisure Motor Skills and Movement Patterns, Personal and Social Behavior

8 DO YOU LIKE MY HAT? Design a party hat that even the pickiest pup would love! Draw a larger version of the shape below on construction paper and cut along the lines. and trace onto the construction paper. Fold one o the long sides toward the other to create a cone shape. Glue or tape the straight sides together. Decorate the hat with markers, feathers, beads, or any other fun decorations. Use your imagination and make the hat as colorful and interesting as possible! Visual Arts: Creative Processes Lending a Paw Animal shelters provide care and treatment to animals needing protection. They also attempt to find homes for homeless animals or reunite lost pets with their families. Check out some of the ways you can be a good citizen by providing assistance to local animal shelters. The two most popular ways to help are: 1. MAKE A DONATION: It takes a lot of money to provide shelter, food, and medicine for the many animals. Consider donating money or supplies to your local shelter. 2. VOLUNTEER: Contact your local shelter to ask about volunteer opportunities for both adults and kids. Many shelters have age requirements, but they may have a task that is perfect for you! A few more creative ideas are: 1. GO VIRAL: Create a promotional video and song for a local shelter. They may even be able to use your video on their website! 2. GET CRAFTY: Create busy buckets filled with things like toys and treats that help you guessed it keep shelter dogs busy and happy. You may also sew together scraps of blankets and towels to make a new blanket for an animal. Items like old blankets and towels that normally get thrown away can also become great donation items. 3. PET PARTY: Instead of asking for gifts at your next birthday party, ask partygoers to bring pet supplies such as food, treats, collars, and toys to donate them to your local shelter. 4. SIGN LANGUAGE: Create and decorate signs that are then hung on the shelter cages. A quick walk down the doggie aisle reveals crafty and glittered Adopt me! and Take me home today! signs. Social Studies Civics: Citizenship; Visual Arts Creative Processes How are you helping your community? Send us letters, postcards, pictures, or videos of ways you have helped local animal shelters.

9 Answers: HUMAN a. Eye; b. Ear; c. Mouth; d. Shoulder; e. Chest; f. Elbow; g. Hip; h. Leg DOG a. Ear; b. Eye; c. Mouth; d. Shoulder; e. Chest; f. Hip; g. Leg; h. Elbow 5 FUN FACTS ABOUT FIDO 1. Dogs are capable of hearing sounds at four times the distance of humans. 2. Service dogs are trained to know when they are on duty. When their harness is on, they know it is time to work. When you take it off, they are immediately playful and energetic. 3. Scientific evidence shows that dogs have been kept as pets for over 15,000 years. 4. Dogs cool off by sweating through the pads of their feet. 5. A dog s nose is as unique as a human fingerprint. The combination of ridges and creases is so distinct it can actually be used to identify them. Man s Best Friend Dogs are commonly referred to as man s best friend, but their anatomy (body structure) is very different. Take a look at the list of body parts below and see if you can locate and correctly label each part on both the human and dog. HINT: If you need help, you may refer to either the Internet or a textbook to correctly label the parts of the body. LEG HIP ELBOW MOUTH CHEST SHOULDER EAR EYE Science Life Science: Living Systems: Characteristics, Structure, and Function; Physical Education and Health Health and Wellness: Human Growth and Development

10 Further Reading Red, Stop! Green, Go! An Interactive Book of Colors by P.D. Eastman (Ages 2-5) Explore the world of color in this interactive adaptation of Go, Dog. Go! Flaps, wheels, and slide tabs let children make a white dog get black spots, the traffic light change from red to green, and dogs of all colors zoom around in cars. Simple and sturdy interactive elements will make this new format a hit with parents and little ones alike! Fred and Ted s Road Trip by Peter Eastman (Ages 3-7) In their latest adventure, Fred and Ted pack a picnic basket, jump in their cars, and hit the open road but as usual, things don't go as the doggy duo plan. They encounter muddy roads, thunder and lightning, tire-piercing cacti, and overenthusiastic tire inflating that almost sends Fred into orbit! Build, dogs, build: a tall tail by James Horvath (Ages 4-8) Join head foreman Duke and his crew of worker dogs on a busy day of construction fun. In Build, Dogs, Build, our favorite doggy construction team is pulling down an old building to make way for a new one! Using equipment like cranes, bulldozers, dump trucks, and cement mixers, these busy dogs must race to finish the job in this fun follow-up to Dig, Dogs, Dig. It s a Dog s Life: How man s best friend sees, hears, and smells the world by Susan E. Goodman, illustrated by David Slonim (Ages 6-9) Have you ever wondered what your dog sees when he looks at a sunset? Or what she smells when she has her nose to the ground? And what IS your pooch trying to say when he looks at you with those big puppy eyes? With a thoroughly silly text and adorable illustrations, IT'S DOG'S LIFE answers those questions and a whole lot more. A Dazzling Display of Dogs by Betsy Franco, illustrated by Michael Wertz (Ages 9-12) Dig into this collection of visual poems celebrating all things canine from obedience school, to backyard break outs, to flatulent Fidos. Whether your best friend is a plucky Jack Russell, an indecisive basset hound, or a poodle with an indiscriminate appetite, you're sure to find this dazzling display doggone delightful. Library Media Connection: Read Visit your local library for more suggestions!

11 What Was Your Favorite Part of the Play? Did you know that the play you saw was the result of many people working together? There are many roles in the theatre department and each of the people in charge of these tasks must do their very best as a team in order to produce a great performance. Below is a list of some of these roles: The DIRECTOR is the person responsible for the overall artistic vision of a production. The SET DESIGNER is the person responsible for designing and overseeing the construction of the stage setting. The COSTUME DESIGNER is the person in charge of the clothing worn by the actors in a performance. The TECHNICAL DIRECTOR is the person in charge of the technical requirements of a production as well as the equipment. The STAGE MANAGER is the person responsible for overseeing all the backstage elements of a production (scheduling, rehearsals, etc.) The ACTOR is the one who performs a role or represents a character in a play. The CHOREOGRAPHER is the person who designs the dance steps to be used in a play. The MUSIC DIRECTOR is the person responsible for the musical content of a production. Which of these roles most closely matches your favorite part of the play? WANT MORE INFORMATION? If you would like more information about the Arkansas Arts Center Children s Theatre, visit our website at: or call We would love to hear from you! Write to us at:: ARKANSAS ARTS CENTER CHILDREN S THEATRE P.O. BOX 2137 LITTLE ROCK, AR Sponsored by: Little Rock Family Arkansas Arts Center Children s Theatre is supported in part by: The Shubert Foundation, the City of Little Rock; the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau; the City of North Little Rock; Arkansas Arts Center Board of Trustees; and the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage and the National Endowment for the Arts.