Horace Mann Kindergarteners Enjoy Playhouse Square

For many Horace Mann kindergarten students, last week's visit to Cleveland's world-class Playhouse Square was a first.  Do you remember YOUR first time in one of those gorgeous spaces?  Hopefully it sparks a lifetime of interest in - and appreciation for - live theater for them.

Our students saw The Ugly Duckling...but with an added feature:  so-called Light Wire special effects.  The theater was darkened and the actors had illumination on their costumes.  Teachers and students reported back that the play was really great and held everyone's interest.  Nice job, kids, for being safe on your first Lakewood City Schools bus ride, too!

Although I couldn't accompany Mrs. Rini and Mrs. Sloan's students to the play, I was lucky enough to have a connection to the experience.  On display in both rooms are several books, including The Ugly Duckling and some spin off stories with the same theme (such as The Ugly Duckling Dinosaur).  I recently had the opportunity to read aloud both books to Mrs. Sloan's class, which was super-fun for me (and I think they liked it, too) 😊

Several other grade levels at Horace Mann will visit Playhouse Square this year as part of similar reading extension activities.  Maybe this will inspire our families to take advantage of this wonderful resource, as well...right in our own backyard!