Schools

Sharon & Bram
Study Guide

INTRODUCTION

This guide is designed for parents, teachers and caregivers to use with their children or students in connection with their visit to the theatre. It was written by Education & Participation Intern Isabelle Siciliano. We hope you will find this guide to be a useful resource. Should you have any questions or feedback or have inquiries about the use of this guide (which is copyright protected), please feel free to contact Karen Gilodo, Associate Artistic Director, Education at kgilodo@youngpeoplestheatre.org.

For over 40 years Sharon Hampson and Bram Morrison have entertained families across North America. Along with their late colleague, Lois Lilienstein, Sharon Lois and Bram became known as Canada’s most legendary children’s performers, charming and educating audiences in a play-based environment exemplifying the fun of learning for young people through music and performing.

“We love singing with our audiences; the sound of families singing together and the expressions of delight on the faces of parents and children as they share the music, bring us deep satisfaction.”
– Sharon and Bram

This study guide is intended to use some of Sharon and Bram’s beloved songs as an entryway into exploring the songs and their themes with young children. By playing with lyrics and actions students will creatively develop their own versions and work towards creating a concert of their own for their school mates.

CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS

  • Music
  • Kindergarten Curriculum
  • Dance and Movement

SEVEN ANCESTRAL TEACHINGS

In addition to Curriculum Connections, we are now providing connections to the Seven Grandfather Teachings for every play. Want to know more? Click here!

  • Love
  • Respect
  • Wisdom

THEMES

  • Sharing Family Traditions
  • The Joy of Singing
  • Celebrating Canadian Music

PRE-SHOW ACTIVITY: SKINNAMARINK, I LOVE…?

Objective

This exercise encourages students to empathize and respect one another through song and movement.

Materials

  • Paper
  • Coloured Pencils

Directions

  1. Teach students the music and movements to the song “Skinnamarink”, which will be performed in the show. You can find a link to the song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPdV8jXAjUQ
  2. Gather the students in a circle and practice the song with them until you feel they have learned it.
  3. Ask the students to think of someone they love. The students can then simultaneously call out the person or persons they thought of and add a gesture that expresses love every time they sing the word “you”.
  4. For the next round, go around the circle and individually ask each student to share their person or persons, and the gesture they created. The class will then repeat the verse.An example:
    “Skinnamarinky dinky dink
    Skinnamarinky do,
    I love Mom!
    Skinnamarinky dinky dink
    Skinnamarinky do,
    I love my brother
    I love Sam in the morning and in the afternoon
    I love Chris in the evening and underneath the moon.
    Skinnamarinky dinky dink
    Skinnamarinky do,
    I love my friends!”
  5. Repeat the song until every student has a turn.

Debriefing Questions

  1. Ask students to think about why they love the people they expressed in the song.
  2. Why do people sing about love?
  3. What happens to your mind and body when you sing about the things/people you love?
  4. What did you learn about each other during the exercise?

Extension

  1. Ask students to draw a picture of one of the people that they sang about.
  2. Ask students to share with the class what they drew and why it is special to them.

POST-SHOW DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  • What is a concert?
  • What makes going to a concert fun?
  • What did you enjoy about the concert by Sharon & Bram?
  • Was there anything surprising about the concert?

POST-SHOW ACTIVITY: A CLASS CONCERT

Objective

Students will share and learn different family traditions through various arts mediums and collectively create their own concert for their class.

Directions

  1. Ask students to share an activity that they do with their family on a regular basis (i.e. storytime, family dinners etc.).
  2. Have a class discussion about traditions. What is a tradition?
  3. Ask students to think of a musical tradition they share with their family or friends. They can go home and ask, or if they have an answer, have them share.
  4. Work with students to help them practice the songs that they sing with their families.
  5. Have each student present their song to the class and then, as a large group, learn each other’s songs. Have students rehearse their songs over a period of time in order to create a concert of their own for another class or even for the entire school.

Debriefing Questions

  1. Why do we listen to music?
  2. How does music make us feel?
  3. How does music connect us with other people?
  4. Would you rather go to a concert or listen to music on your own? Explain your response.

We would love to hear what you come up with here at YPT. Please feel free to send us a video or email with your concert pieces!