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First Grade Begins Opera Unit with The Magic Flute
Last week first graders began a four-week study of opera, kicked off by a workshop led by Sing a Story with the San Francisco Opera Guild. After a singing lesson and the musical telling of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Kristen (the visiting teaching artist) unveiled a “magic bag” full of props and costumes and led the children in performing the opera in the classroom.
“First graders use their whole being when they express themselves musically,” says teacher Barbara Eisenhauer. “It is hard for them to sit still. They feel the rhythms and need to move.” First graders also enjoy pretend play at this age; they like dressing as other characters and using different voice inflections. Opera is an excellent way to teach language, Ms. Eisenhauer feels, “because opera is literature that is alive. First graders can understand character development, setting, and problems in stories—all by actually participating in opera.”
The culminating activity of their opera study will be their performance of The Nanny Goat Opera for their families and guests, on June 9. MORE PHOTOS
