More than thirty eighth grade students from Templeton Middle School (TMS) have been working to bring several beloved children’s books to life through entirely student driven theatrical productions. On May 4, the middle school students visited all four elementary schools in the Hamilton School District to perform for elementary students.
“The part I enjoyed most was getting to see the plays finally come together from the initial first read through to the final performances,” shares Templeton Middle School student Abigail Kettleson. Kettleson said she also enjoyed seeing the friendships that were formed between drama students throughout the process.
The drama tour visits are part of the Hamilton Arts in Community Education (HACE) program, which has created a district wide celebration of the performing arts. Hamilton School District music teachers developed HACE during the 2022-23 school year to give students of all ages authentic experiences to celebrate and appreciate all that the arts have to offer.
From scriptwriting to staging, TMS students transformed well known books into original stage plays. Productions were based on books such as ‘Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,’ ‘Click, Clack, Moo! Cows That Type!’ and ‘The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig.’
“This project truly highlights the power of student centered learning,” said Templeton Middle School Teacher Sarah Troy. “Students aren’t just performing. These eighth graders are creating, problem-solving and setting an amazing example for our younger students to help grow the next generation of performing artists. They’ve taken responsibility for the entire process and the results are both impressive and inspiring.”
TMS students worked in groups to adapt each story into a script, making creative decisions about dialogue, pacing and character development. Beyond writing, they designed and constructed their own sets, crafted props and developed costumes to bring their visions to life. Even more impressively, students stepped into leadership roles as directors, guiding rehearsals and shaping the overall performance.
Templeton Middle School student Madelyn Kormanik says she will remember the sound of laughter and how engaged the young students were. “I hope the elementary school students now know that acting is an art that anyone can do,” she adds.
“I will remember how happy the little kids were to see our performances,” explains Templeton Middle School student Kilee Willms. “We worked so hard and I made many great friends throughout this experience.”
The experience has allowed students to explore artistic expression while developing essential skills such as teamwork, communication and creative thinking. By placing students at the center of the learning process, the program fosters independence and confidence, empowering them to take pride in their work.