Olympia Junior Programs presents

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

By StoryBook Theater, Kirkland WA

March 11-13 & 16-18, 2009

The Washington Center for the Performing Arts

A Study Guide for Teachers of Grades 1-3

To prepare students for a positive theater experience

EALR references included

STORY SYNOPSIS

This version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears is a story about how important it is to have good manners.

Baby Bear has very bad manners. Baby interrupts its parents, doesn’t say, “Please” or “Thank you,” and picks its nose! Baby drives its parents crazy! Mama Bear is so upset by Baby’s manners and rude reaction to the porridge Mama made for breakfast that the whole family goes out for a walk to cool off.

Goldie also has very bad manners. She has run away from home because her parents expect her to do chores and to use good manners. Goldie thinks this is very unreasonable! She ends up in the Bear’s cottage (without their permission!) eating their breakfast! (Also, without their permission!)

When Baby Bear and Goldie meet in the Bear’s cottage they are rude to each other and end up in a fight – a fight they sing in a song. (They sing, “Go away!” “Leave me alone!” “Why are you bothering me!”) Baby stomps off to find Mama and Papa Bear and to tell on Goldie. But Mama and Papa don’t believe Baby, which is very frustrating for them all.

Goldie appears and sings a song about all the terrible things that have happened to her – stories she has made up to make Mama and Papa Bear feel sorry for her. They all return home, where Baby and Goldie continue to fight. Finally Baby and Goldie are sent outside for time out where they decide they are tired of fighting. They begin to play the “I Spy” game and have fun. But Goldie misunderstands one of Baby’s clues and stomps off in a temper tantrum, leaving Baby upset and frustrated about losing a new friend.

Poor Baby is sorry, sad, and tired. Mama and Papa send Baby to bed for a nap and there is Goldie asleep in the bed. Baby wakes Goldie and explains why the game went wrong and they become friends again. Goldie and the Bear family sing about how using good manners helps a person be a good friend. (Baby Bear is referred to as “it” so that the character can be played by a male or female actor.)

VOCABULARY FROM Goldilocks

porridge, waffles, ridiculous, disappointed, embarrassing, manners, rude, respect, species, spy (to catch sight of suddenly), please, thank you, criticism, compliment, exceptional, intellect, random, different, nice, anticipation

BEFORE THE PERFORMANCE

As with all fairy tales, there is more than one version of the story. Read two or more versions of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” with the class. What are the differences between the stories? Which story elements stay the same? Have students predict which story elements will stay the same in the performance. This performance of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” is a musical. Have students predict what parts of the story will be told through song. (Reading 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, 3.3; Communication 1.1)
Discuss the meanings of the vocabulary words. (Reading 1.2; Communication 2.4)
Review the OJP Theater Etiquette Guide regarding student behavior. (Civics 2.2, 4.1)

Please Note: This production is audience interactive. Performers will prompt the audience to sing along with them and answer questions when asked. It is appropriate for the audience to respond as directed by the performers.

THE PERFORMANCE ITSELF: (Arts 1.1, 2.1, 2.3, 3.2)

You may notice that the music for this show is performed live by an on-stage keyboardist.

AFTER THE PERFORMANCE

Follow-up

Discuss which predictions about the play took place. How was the performance different from or the same as students’ expectations? (Arts 3.2)

Tell what you did or didn’t like about the play, the characters, costumes, or set. Send letters or pictures to Olympia Junior Programs, P.O. Box 1371 Olympia, WA 98507-1371 (Writing 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.2, 3.2; Communications 1.3; Arts 1.5, 2.3)

Discussion

Baby Bear and Goldie each need to learn better manners. Which manners do you think they should work on? Do you think there are any manners you need to work on? When someone has bad manners do you want to play with them? How do good manners make people better friends? How did Baby and Goldie finally work out their problems? Do you ever get frustrated with a friend? How do you work out your problems with your friends?

Visual Art

Baby and Goldie played a game of “I Spy.” Use your pencil, crayons, and imagination to draw a picture of them playing. Share your drawing with your classmates. Can your classmates find in your drawing what Goldie and Baby “spied”?

Writing Prompts

Goldie wants your advice on how to be a better friend. Write a letter to her, trying to help her learn to be a good friend.

Put these sentences in the right order as they occurred in the play.

Goldie and Baby Bear make friends (for the first time) and play “I Spy.”

Mama makes porridge for breakfast.

The Bear family goes out for a walk to cool off.

Baby Bear finds Goldie asleep in Baby’s bed.

Baby finds Goldie in the Bear’s house eating the porridge.

Baby and Goldie fight.

EALRs Arts: 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 2.1, 3.1, 4.5; Communication: 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.2; Writing: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.2

Nearly this entire study guide is made up of excerpts from the StoryBook Theater’s “Goldilocks” study guide. Go to: http://storybooktheater.org/Links/GoldilocksGuide09.pdf for StoryBook’s entire 5 page study guide. Additional activities and vocabulary word definitions are in StoryBook Theater’s study guide. Your can also visit their company site at: http://storybooktheater.org/