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In my second year of teaching I began developing a music/drama-based
curriculum. Using "The Wizard of Oz" as a central theme, we derived a
variety of activities across the curriculum to enrich the experience,
culminating in a production of the musical. When the students in the regular
education classes heard about our play, they were immediately interested
and wanted to do anything they could to participate. I believe this is
because humans have an inherent desire to feel that they belong to something
bigger than themselves and when people get together to create something
original, it can be a powerful experience.
I set out to find the perfect actors and actresses for the parts. One
of my girls with Downs Syndrome won the role of Dorothy when she sang
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" in perfect key and pitch and brought tears
to the eyes of everyone in the room. The remainder of my Life Skills students
rose to the occasion and took on their roles as the Lion, Tin Man, Scarecrow,
and so on. I then looked to the regular class for the additional roles
of the Munchkins and the Mayor. I had little trouble finding students
willing to help; I spent time watching the students interact at recess
and I asked the students who had it in their hearts to be kind and helpful
to my students to be part of our production of "The Wizard of Oz." The
group of 20 students, 6 life skills and 14 regular education students,
worked for approximately three months to make this dream a reality. They
willingly gave up their recesses to create scenery, go over lines and
practice singing and dancing. The project came alive and so did the students.
Their relationships began to improve in and out of the classroom - they
had something they shared and they looked to each other for support, guidance
and encouragement.
On the big night the stage was set, the children were in costume and
the auditorium was filled with approximately 200 of our closest family
and friends. Needless to say, with the students' unbelievable talents
and memories for music and movement, they were a complete success. Portions
of the "Wizard of Oz" soundtrack were played during the performance to
assist the students in speaking and singing their lines, but their portrayals
of Dorothy and her friends in the Land of Oz were so close to the real
thing that the audience agreed that their next step should be Broadway!
Not a dry eye remained after this show. The performance brought together
everyone who was ever important to the growth and development of these
six life skills students and allowed their families and friends to see
the children as they really are, shining stars.
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