Purdue News

November 5, 1999 Writing workshops inspire elementary students WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Students from 17 Lafayette-area elementary schools will participate in special interactive creative writing workshops this month as part of a special millennium-themed arts education project, "Bridging the Centuries," coordinated by Purdue University's Department of Convocations. Conducted by Child's Play Touring Theatre Company of Chicago, the workshops will be held Nov. 9-18 on this schedule: Nov. 9. Williamsport, Pine Village and Attica. Nov. 10. Klondike, New Community and Edgelea. Nov. 11. Wea Ridge and Otterbein. Nov. 12. Miami and Murdock. Nov. 15. Mayflower Mill. Nov. 16. Dayton, Cole and Mintonye. Nov. 17. Hershey. Nov. 18. Battle Ground and Burnett's Creek. Inspired by the stories of senior citizen volunteers, parents, grandparents and neighbors, 3,500 elementary school students will research and write stories about life in Tippecanoe, Benton, Fountain and Warren counties over the past 100 years as part of the arts education project. The creative writing workshops will give them the skills and the enthusiasm to complete the project. "Child's Play really gets the students involved," explained Laura Clavio, education coordinator for Convocations. "First the actors will perform stories written by other kids from somewhere else to engage the students' attention and imaginations. Then they teach them the essential parts of any story: Who the story is about, where it takes place, what happens or what problem needs to be solved. The kids get all pumped up offering suggestions, and when they get back in the classroom, their teachers tell us they can't wait to start writing. You really have to see Child's Play in action – and talk to the teachers – to appreciate what a dynamic program they have." A reading advisory group of teachers and Convocations staff members will evaluate the dozens of stories, poems, essays and visual art pieces created by the students. A selected group of submissions will be sent on to Child's Play Touring Theatre Company, which will weave a few into a special stage performance at Loeb Playhouse on May 10-12, 2000. As part of its ongoing arts education and outreach programming, Purdue Convocations has brought Child's Play Touring Theatre to the Greater Lafayette area for three consecutive years. However, this project represents the largest number of schools and students to participate and the first time their work here has been tied to a theme: the new millennium and the end of the century. Child's Play motivates elementary school students to read and write through developing and staging original plays based on children's poems, stories and essays. Based in Chicago, the nationally recognized company has toured over 32 states, performing and educating more than 3 million students in its 19-year history. The company's goal is to help children understand the value and significance of writing and reading in their lives. Child's Play offers a powerful teaching tool that can strengthen and enhance the teaching and learning process. In addition to the creative writing workshops offered by Child's Play, Purdue Convocations has developed a teacher's guide including a resource of more than 30 senior citizens in the community who have volunteered to "tell their stories" to students. Organizations such as Tippecanoe Storytellers Guild, AARP, Purdue University Retirees, Wabash Area Life-long Learning Association, and Westminster Village are providing volunteers and are officially supporting the project. Donations from individuals and corporations are making this project possible. Major underwriting partners include Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union; Friends of Convocations; Rea Magnet; Eli Lilly and Co. Tippecanoe Labs; Heartland Arts Fund; and University Inn Conference Center and Suites. Individuals wishing to support this project or needing more information should contact the Purdue Convocations offices at (765) 494-9712. CONTACTS: Clavio, (765) 494-9712, lzclavio@purdue.edu; Sue Stevens, Convocations publicist, (765) 494-5045, snsteven@purdue.edu NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: To arrange to cover any of the workshops, contact Sue Stevens, Convocations publicist, at (765) 494-5045, snsteven@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page