Creating and Performing Things That Make Us Smile, 

From Heart-Warming to Humor in 10 Weeks

ages 10+

Heart-Warming

The first 5 weeks of the semester will be spent viewing/reading and analyzing/discussing inspirational, moving, positive, emotional media (in the form of ballads, short videos, articles, etc.).  

We will analyze what how the media was created, what makes it so powerful, and whether it would still be as moving (or more or less) in another format, etc.  

Culminating Project due week 5: Every student will choose a true piece of good-news to present in the format they think would be most powerful, to their classmates, in a presentation lasting 2-7 minutes long.  (Example: Student A reads an article about a child who was adopted and presents the story to class in a claymation.  Student B watches a news story about a veteran who returns home in time to see his baby born, and presents the story in the form of a graphic novel.). Some class time will be used for this project.

Humor

The second 5 weeks, we will move from heart-warming to humor, and study the art of stand-up comedy.  We will view and listen to age-appropriate comedians, and analyze and discuss their work.  We will write our own stand-up comedy pieces, and discuss the fine line between playful and offensive humor (and create our own class guidelines in terms of what we will allow and what is out of bounds) so that we can write pieces that are not offensive to our classmates and acquaintances.  We will play acting games and learn comedic delivery and acting skills.  We will discuss the differences between theatrical acting delivery and stand-up delivery.  

Culminating Project due week 10: Every student will perform a short stand-up act (1-4min. long) for the co-op on the last day of class at lunchtime.  I will also host a coffee-house kind of BYOB&Snacks performance for our families at my home one night the week after the last day of class so that students can get more performance experience and their non-co-op-participating-families can have the pleasure of watching the students, live.

Workload:

In Class

• This is meant to be an easy class.  We will read/watch/listen and discuss our media.  
• We will use class time to prepare our culminating projects.  
• We will read articles on performance psychology, preparing us mentally for performing in front of an audience.
• We will play acting games.  If time permits, we'll also perform short skits for each other to hone our acting & delivery skills.

Homework

• We will spend the whole semester working on our culminating projects.  While students will be given class time to work on them, some work may have to be done at home if it's not finished in class, and the students are expected to practice and memorize whatever they're performing.  Neither of the culminating projects is to be over 7mins. long, so this shouldn't be hard.
• Everyone will watch the Mel Brooks movie, To Be Or Not To Be between weeks 4 and 5, so that we can discuss together whether Mel succeeded or failed at making this sensitive subject comedic without being offensive.  (in class, we'll also watch clips of Avenue Q and Nunsense and discuss the same topic)

Materials to be brought to class each week:

• two #2 pencils, an art gum or pearl pink eraser, & lined notebook, each labeled with student's name
• laptop if your child prefers typing over writing

Cost, to cover printouts & other materials:

$31.50

Class Min.     4

Class Max.    none

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Family must register for LOGYC Coop in order to sign up for classes.