MagicaCaterpilLar Play!

Prepare:

The following is a guide. Adapt it to go with the number of participants and their abilities and interests!

Costumes:

• 5 children act out as leaves, dressed in green.
• The leaves double up as caterpillars.
• Make antennae that easily come on and off. (Use head bands or make them out of cardboard.)

Alternatively adapt the play and choose 5 additional children to be the caterpillars. They are dressed in a different color such as yellow to distinguish them from the leaves.

Try tie dying to create the effect you want for your play.

• 10 children dressed in white, each holding a different shade of blue ribbon in one hand. They are the clouds. There are 5 matching pairs of colored ribbons in total. (Material such as crêpe paper can also be used.)
• The children can act out the clouds by holding a ribbon as they move with or without music, do a dance and unite in pairs, or add percussion instruments!

Props:

• The Caterpillar: Paint or cover boxes with different colors and designs, and join them together to make a tunnel.

The box at the front is the head:

• Paint the eyes on the sides of the box and the antennae at the top.
• Use pipe-cleaners, cardboard or other material to make the antennae.

Alternatively, use hoops that children jump through.

• The butterfly: Use a parachute or a tie dyed sheet. I recommend sewing holders on the edge of the sheet for an easy grip and guide.

Staging:

• Place the caterpillar towards the back of the stage with enough space for the butterfly and clouds to act out in the space in front of it.
• Alternatively organize a back stage crew to move the caterpillar as needed, to make space for the butterfly and cloud acts.

Be creative and involve the children with designing and making props. And above all, have fun!

Observe children when they play and get ideas. Take photos that you can use as dialogue for the play. Look at the example below.

Caterpillar, Caterpillar, Munch! Munch! Munch!

The Caterpillars Meet And Talk

The Caterpillars Crawl Away!

For a free audio of the book and more ideas on costumes, props and staging visit: http://magicaplay.com

This idea has been inspired by Maria Grujicic, Malena 
The Petaled Poet of Poems That Dance. 

Write and publish your book (www.fastpencil.com)

Malena, The Petaled Poet

Copyright

© Maria Grujicic and magicaplay.com, from February 2011. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Maria Grujicic and magicaplay.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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