Objectives: To introduce goal setting for students.

To introduce the connection between positive self-esteem and

accomplishments.

To introduce the importance of saying no to drugs and alcohol.

To introduce the students to creative puppet theatre.

Outline: Please do not divulge the plot to students. This is a part II story designed

to follow up on the story PHASESHIFTERS currently being performed by

the Blue Sky Puppet Theatre. It is also designed to stand alone if the

students have never seen a Blue Sky performance.

TREEHOUSE is the story of a modern neighborhood dealing with drug

prevention education through goal setting and self-esteem building. The

characters are two rabbit families and their basketball coach. Sunny and

Honey are a brother and sister who have a band with their next door

neighbor, Bouncer. Wac Dog is Bouncer's older brother. Sunny, Honey

and Bouncer teach the audience two new songs (lyrics included) - "I Like

Myself" and "I Can Do It If I Plan". The rabbits fail at their first attempt

to build a treehouse. The coach shares with them "The Six Steps to

Success through Goal Setting" (listed below). The culmination of the

show is a construction of a treehouse and a rocket launch. There is

significant controlled audience participation in the program.

The program runs forty-five minutes. Seating is on the floor or in chairs.

We prefer to set up on the floor in front of the stage. First row of seating

is 15 feet from your stage. Stage dimensions 21' wide x 8' deep x 10' tall.

Special note: CDs of the show songs are available. Just ask the performers!

1. What is goal setting and why is it important?

2. What does positive self-esteem/self-concept mean? Why is it important? How do

you achieve it?

3. Who has set a goal with his/her parents, teacher, or for yourself and accomplished

what goal? Discuss.

4. What can you do to improve your self-esteem?

5. What are the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse or experimentation?

6. Discuss the nature of puppets. What kinds have you seen? How is a puppet

used?

7. Discuss the nature of theatre production. How is a puppet play different from

other theater presentations? How is it the same?

8. Discuss the basic elements of a story. e.g. characters, setting, climax, point or

moral, etc.

1. Think about things you want to do, be, or have. Make a list.

2. Read a play or short story having different students read aloud.

3. Read books about puppetry and puppet theatre.

1. What did you think about the play? Who thought it was fun and why? What are

some of your favorite parts of the show?

2. Name the characters you saw and what different parts they played. Who did you

like and who did you dislike? Why?

3. Who can tell me the general plot of the show? Why did the rabbits have trouble

building their first treehouse? What went wrong?

4. What was the relationship between Bouncer and his brother, Wac Dog? How did

Wac treat Bouncer? What did Wac mean about having some "stuff"? How did

Bouncer react to Wac's abusiveness? Do you have that kind of problem with any

family members or acquaintances? How do you handle that problem?

5. What was the message the coach had for the rabbits and for the audience?

6. What are the "Six Steps to Success"? How would you feel if we, as individuals

and as a class, set goals for ourselves and worked toward the completion of them?

What benefits would you gain by achieving those goals?

7. Who can remember all the words and actions to, "I Like Myself"? What about, "I

Can Do It If I Plan"?

8. What alternatives are there to alcohol and drug experimentation and drug abuse?

e.g. sports, reading, art, science,etc.

9. Who can speculate on why Wac was the way he was?

10. Was there reality in the construction of the final treehouse and rocket launch?

Discuss the nature of theatre and that reality.

1. Make a list of things that you would like to do, be, or have.

2. Using the "Six Steps to Success", outline how you would be able to work towards

and achieve one of your goals from question one. Share it with your parents.

3. Study materials that your school has on goal setting. How do they compare with

what you saw in the show TREEHOUSE?

4. Sing the song, "I Like Myself", with the actions. Some schools have made it a

regular morning anthem.

5. Produce your own smaller plays and puppet productions about themes of self-

esteem, goal setting, and drug and alcohol abuse education.

6. Work on a goal using the "Six Steps to Success" and send it to the performers.

Also, post it on a bulletin board.

7. Draw a picture of your favorite scene from the show and send it to the performers.

Post it on a bulletin board.

"Do It In A Day, Puppets For Beginners" M.W. Adair

"Let's Start a Puppet Theatre" B.E. Anderson

"Magic of Puppetry" Peggy Davison Jenkins

"Making Easy Puppets" Shari Lewis

"Puppets for Play Production" N. Renfro

"Psychology of Success" Brian Tracey (Nightingale Conant)

"Goal Setting and the Performance Planner" Zig Ziglar (Carrollton, Texas Audio Tapes)

I LIKE MYSELF

I'm smart and I'm strong,

and I'm ready for whatever comes along.

And I've got good friends, we'll stick together to the end.

And I'm able to do

whatever I put my mind to.

I Like Myself

I'm worth a lot (3 times)

Don't say I'm not

cause you can't see inside of me.

I can do it if I plan

Yes I can

Yes I can.

I can really make it happen

Yes I can

Yes I can

Yes I can.

**A CD, including "I Like Myself" and "Yes I Can", is available by writing or calling Cheri Fulton in our business office: 301-927-5599. The cost is $6.00.

1. Write down goal

2. List problems getting to goal

3. Skills needed

4. Who can help

5. Plan of action

6. Date finished

1/09