LIGHTS OUT ON THE BUNNY BROTHERS

 

Objectives:      Children will learn about the 6 Rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repair, Respect and Responsibility

Children will learn how to conserve energy (electricity, water, etc.)

                        Children will be able to name natural resources

                        Children will be able to define “conservation”

Children will choose to conserve energy and natural resources as a result of experiencing a dramatic theatre presentation using puppets.

 

 “Lights Out on the Bunny Brothers” features rod puppets, a costumed actor, and a 14 foot tall puppet representing Mother Nature.  The main characters, Sunny, Funny, and Honey Bunny, are studying about conservation in school.  But Sunny and Funny don’t learn their lesson until Honey tricks them into thinking they’ve wasted all the electricity and water in the world.  The show ends with Sunny and Funny promising to do all they can to help save our electricity and water.

 

Suggested Pre-Show Discussion Topics

1.                  What are “natural resources?”  Name some. (water, trees, gas, etc.)

2.                  What are “energy sources?”  Name some.  (sun, water, wind, etc.)

3.                  Tell children about the water shortage which occurred many years ago.  Ask them how the water might have been used up or wasted.

4.                  How can people save or “conserve” water?

5.                  Tell children about the gasoline shortage which occurred several years ago.  Ask them how people might have used or wasted gasoline.

6.                  How can people conserve gasoline?

7.                  Remind children that occasionally there are electrical power failures during storms.  Discuss what it is like to be without electricity.

8.                  What would our lives be like without energy or natural resources?

9.                  Summarize the importance of conservation at home and in school.

10.              Discuss the nature of puppets.  What kind have you seen?  How is a puppet used?

11.              Discuss the nature of theatre production.  How is a puppet play different from a live play?  How is it the same?

12.              Discuss the basic elements of a story.

 

Pre-Show Activities

  1. Read a play or short story, having different students read each part aloud.
  2. Read books about puppetry and puppet theatre.
  3. Read books about conservation.

 

SPECIAL NOTE: Due to staging design, the puppeteers prefer to set up on the floor instead of a raised stage.  They will need a cleared area of approximately 15 x 15 feet, and access to an electrical outlet.  Students may be seated either on the floor, in chairs, or at tables.

 

 

Post-Show Discussion Questions

  1. What is a puppet?  What kinds did you see?
  2. What other kinds of puppets have you seen? (finger, hand, shadow, etc.)
  3. How did the Bunny Brothers waste electricity?
  4. What should they have done?
  5. How did the Bunny Brothers waste water?
  6. What should they have done?
  7. What were the three lessons that were taught in the school?
  8. What does “Turn it off, turn it out, don’t waste water from the spout” mean?
  9. What does “Not too cold, not too hot, make the most of what we’ve got” mean?
  10. What does “Plug it up, close it tight, energy will treat you right” mean?
  11. What trick did Honey Bunny play on her brothers?
  12. Honey Bunny turned off the electricity at the fuse box.  Should children really do this?
  13. Did the brothers learn a lesson?  What was it?
  14. What can you do to help “Save the World”?
  15. How can picking up litter help our environment?

 

Post-Show Activities

  1. List ways to save energy and water at home and in school
  2. Draw pictures about the ways we use electricity and water.
  3. Write a story about life without electricity and water.
  4. Create a crossword puzzle energy vocabulary.
  5. Write a letter to your local power company requesting energy conservation pamphlets.
  6. Write a letter to your local utility company requesting water conservation information
  7. Write and produce your own play (puppet or non-puppet) about nature and conservation.
  8. Write letters to the puppeteers telling them what you thought of the program.
  9. Write a story about what might happen if everyone threw their trash on the ground.

 

Teacher Activities

  1. Organize a classroom or school-wide energy conservation art contest.
  2. Create a learning center in your classroom about energy conservation.
  3. Create a bulletin board display about energy conservation which might include some of the drawings or lists from the student post show activities.
  4. Take your students on a tour of a local power or water company.
  5. Invite spokespeople from your local utility companies or environmental organizations to come to your class and speak about conservation.
  6. Organize a “Pick-Up Litter” campaign at your school.

 

Bibliography:

50 Things Kids Can Do To Save The Earth, The EarthWorks Group.  Scholastic           1990

A Show of Hands, Crepeau and Richards.  Redleaf Press 10/03.

Introduction to Puppet and Puppet-Making, David Currell.  Book Sales, 9/96.

Muppets Make Puppets, Cheryl Henson.  Workman Publishing, 1994.

Puppet Mania: The World’s Most Incredible Puppet Making Ever, John E.       Kennedy.  North Light Books, 2/04.