WAC Brings Performance to New School
Mar 10, 2010 | Taylor Long 
On Tuesday, New School 2nd-5th grade students were treated to a special theatrical performance in our own gym. The Walton Arts Center teamed up with Trike Theater to bring the play, Digging Up Arkansas to The New School to teach our students about Arkansas History through an entertaining and engaging performance.
Parents: Please join us for a special Parent Performance for all elementary and middle school students and parents this Thursday evening.
Parent Performance of Digging Up Arkansas
Thursday, March 11; 7:00 p.m. in the New School Gym
Read below to learn more and to see a slideshow from the Tuesday's performance!
Walton Arts Center and The New School believe in the power of the arts to improve classroom learning and inspire people of all ages. The New School is part of Walton Arts Center’s 100% SmART School Residency. The learning goal of the program is to prepare and coach third grade classroom teachers in ways to use drama as a teaching strategy to help students’ literacy achievement. In addition to professional development for teachers and workshops for students, the project offers opportunities for students to see live performance at Walton Arts Center as well as in their school. A new play, Digging Up Arkansas, based on Arkansas History will be performed in The New School for elementary students and their families.
About The SmART school Residency program
SmART school Residency is a pilot program that started in August, 2009 in four public schools. Third grade students and teachers have been working with Trike Theatre teaching artists in arts-based workshops before and after the students attend performances at Walton Arts Center. Workshops are designed to make the performance experience more meaningful and support student achievement in literacy. Dr. Patricia Relph, Walton Arts Center’s Arts Learning Specialist says:
“Research shows that children involved in the arts are better students and more engaged in learning. Walton Arts Center’s goal is to support every Northwest Arkansas student’s learning through the arts, and we are committed to show teachers effective ways to use the arts to improve student achievement in core curriculum areas such as literacy.”
About Digging Up Arkansas
Lost in time! Three writers from the Federal Writer’s Project invite students to explore and organize ancient artifacts before President Roosevelt’s scheduled arrival in Arkansas. Their adventurers unearth historical Arkansas mysteries and demonstrate the communication, courage and culture of characters that shaped our state history. The students make a place for themselves in Arkansas’ story. Digging up Arkansas, written by Arkansas playwright Mike Thomas, was commissioned by Walton Arts Center and co-produced with Tricycle Theatre for Youth with support from the Arkansas Arts Council.
Learning Standards met: Reading; Writing; Oral and Visual Communications; Inquiring / Researching; Social Studies – Geography – Culture and Diversity; History; Theatre and Music.