Sapp, Jeff. (2006). “Why Frog and Snake Never Play Together.” (3 act play) Art Connection: designing a simple set for a play Music Connection: songs about friendship Positive Character Traits & Values: friendship / belonging; diversity; non-prejudice; peacemaking; tolerance; and self-preservation. Based on a “pourquoi tale” passed on from generation to generation, Jeff Sapp developed a simple three act play for elementary children. The story focus is on a family of frogs and a family of snakes who have a chance meeting in the jungle. The frog children and the snake children play together creating new games and just having fun. That is—until they tell their respective parents about the “new friends.” Then, they are told “never to play together again” because they are suppose to be enemies. The dramatization focuses on the positive character traits and values of friendship / belonging; diversity; non-prejudice; peacemaking; tolerance; and self-preservation. The cast of characters for the play includes 5 members of the frog family; 5 members of the snake family; and 5 nature parts. The narrator may be a students or the teacher may choose to play the role. Teachers are strongly encouraged to modify and adapt the dramatization so that all children play a role in the production. Costumes include green T-shirts for the frogs; gray T-shirts for the snakes; yellow for the sun; blue for the moon; brown for the trees; bright colors for flowers; white for the wind; and black for the narrator. Children may use poster board and paint to make faces for the sun, moon, wind, flowers, and trees. Simple design sets may be made by the children using large cardboard pieces and tempra paint. Scenery may be designed for a tropical rain forest, the frog family home, and the snake family home. The play may be used with K-5 elementary children. The way the play is utilized will vary depending upon the age level of the students. Pantomime and voice exploration is encouraged. The music connection includes children singing and performing songs about “friendship.” Teaching Tolerance has a song book and CD titled, “I Will Be Your Friend: Songs and Activities for Young Peacemakers.” From the CD, “I Will Be Your Friend” and “I Find a Good Friend” are appropriate selections you may choose to integrate into the dramatization. Several additional songs about friendship to consider adding to the dramatization in some way are as follows: “You’ve Got a Friend” by Carole King “My One True Friend” by Bette Midler “I Will Be Your Friend” by Amy Grant “Circle of Friends” by Point of Grace “Anytime You Need a Friend” by Mariah Carey “Because You Loved Me” by Celine Dion “Best Friend” by Brandy “Thank You for Being a Friend” by Andrew Gold “Lean On Me” by Bill Withers “That’s What Friends are For” by Dionne Warwick & Friends “Make New Friends” a traditional Campfire Song “Make New Friends” (a traditional Campfire Song) “Make new friends but keep the old One is silver and the other gold. A circle is round, it has no end That’s how long I want to be your friend. I have a hand, and you have another Put them together and we have each other.” “Why Frog and Snake Never Play Together” and the song book with CD, “I Will Be Your Friend” may be found at the Teaching Tolerance website: www.teachingtolerance.org. A comprehensive list of songs about “friendship” is located at: www.friendship.com. |