lilly`s study guide.pages - Weidner Center for the Performing Arts

Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse
Weidner Center for Performing Arts
April 20th 2016
by Kevin Kling
based on the book by Kevin Henkes
LILLY’S PURPLE PLASTIC PURSE
UW-Green Bay Theatre
HOWDY!
The Weidner Center for Performing Arts is delighted that you will be attending
the University of Wisconsin- Green Bay performance of
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse
Written by Kevin Kling
Adapted from the popular children’s book by Wisconsin native Kevin Henkes.
This Study Guide has been designed to prepare teachers and students prior to your
arrival and to enhance your experience as an audience member at the theatre.
CONTENTS
About the Book ……..…………………............... 3
Activities ............................................................... 4
Cross-Curricular Activities …………………..... 5
Vocabulary ………..…………………………..… 6
Making Theatre ………....……………...………. 7
What to Expect on your Trip to the Theatre ..... 8
Resources for Teachers ....................................... 9
LILLY’S PURPLE PLASTIC PURSE
UW-Green Bay Theatre- 2
About the Book
ALA N~ Cl llt'l "'t> A<'l('.ol(
AlA n1 •A 11; F.dMHS C~f'l
h
Ul
J~'\,ttfi
t'>1! 1~
Lilly-outspoken and high-spirited, with a red bow on her tail and jazzy red cowboy
Boc.
Ken-1ut:.lo.y
!1lleura"s
boots-loves
everything about school, especially her sharp-as-a-tack teacher, Mr.
Slinger. Unable to wait until Sharing Time to show off her new movie star
Clhout the 'lloo 'sunglasses, three shiny quarters, and the purple plastic purse that plays a jaunty
Lilly -outspoken and high-spirited, with a red bow on her tail and jaZZ)' red cowboy boots-loves every· thing about
school. especinlly
s h:lf1)·as·a·t:lck
teacher. Mr. Slinger.
Unable
to v.':.lit unril Sharjng
to show offadmonitions
h er n ew movie
tune her
when
it is opened,
Lilly
disregards
Mr. Time
Slinger's
to listen, to be
~'t.ar s unglasses, three s hiny qu:uiers, :md the purple pi:J.o,:tic purse that pL'lys a j:.unty cune when it is opened, J.illy
andto listen.
to wait.
But how
dare
Mr.how
Slinger
confiscate
her treasures? She
disregardsconsiderate,
Mr. Sli ngcr·s admoniUons
10 l)e cousldcraw,
and LO
wait. But
dare Mr. Slinger
confiscate her
Lrca~ures? She d raws a dreadful caricature of h i m, and slips it into hb book bag. "I do not want to be a teacher when I
draws a dreadful caricature of him, and slips it into his book bag. "I do not want to
grow up!" Li.lly dcdan·s.
A~•rd
be a teacher when I grow up!" Lilly declares.
lt's heartening to s.cc Lilly cake responsibility for her own intemperate, ltunderstanda blc, actions ami behavior. In modern
society. where peopl e routinely deny they did anything wrong. Lilly's apoklgy is so thor· ough and sincere, and is so gradous-Jy
received by tl1at true-blue teacher. Mr.Sitnger. th<~t it warms the heart.
Themes
It's heartening to see Lilly take responsibility for her own intemperate, if
understandable, actions and behavior. In modern society, where people routinely
deny they did anything wrong, Lilly's apology is so thorough and sincere, and is so
graciously received by that true-blue teacher. Mr. Slinger, that it warms the heart.
All will appreciate this honest and knowing tribute to wise and forgiving teachers
All will ='~flpt·eciate this honest :md knowmg tribute to wise :1nd forgwing teac;hers who nurture t hildren th•·o ugh tough
LilliC-S.
who nurture children through tough times.
Discussion Points
• Why did Mr. Slinger take away Lilly's beautiful purse?
• Why did Lilly get angry with Mr. Slinger?
• What do you think Mr. Slinger thought and did when he opened his bookbag
and found the mean picture that Lilly drew of him?
• "'I do not want to be a teacher when I grow up,' Lilly said as she marched
out of the classroom." Why did she change her mind when she got outside?
• Why does Lilly put herself in the uncooperative chair? How does it help her?
• Lilly's father bakes tasty No-Frills Cheese Balls for Lilly to take to school.
Why does he do that? Her mother writes a note to Mr. Slinger, though the
contents are never revealed to us. What do you think her note said?
• How does Lilly apologize to Mr. Slinger for her behavior?
• What would have happened if Lilly had not apologized to Mr. Slinger?
LILLY’S PURPLE PLASTIC PURSE
UW-Green Bay Theatre- 3
ACTIVITIES
Making Connections
How have you apologized or made amends when you've done something wrong?
What did you say?
What is the best apology you ever gave! How did you feel afterward? What is the
best apology you ever received? How did you forgive that person? How did you
feel afterward?
Share the famous apology poem "This Is Just to Say" by William Carlos Williams,
which starts: "I have eaten / the plums / that were in / the icebox . . ." Children
can compose apology poems, write l'm­ sorry stories, and draw amend-making
pictures to right wrongs that may be in their lives. And, of course, they can do an
Interpretive Dance to celebrate, just as Lilly and Mr.Slinger did in class.
Loving School
Lilly says, "I love school!" Wowed by her teacher, Mr. Slinger. she says, "I want to
be a teacher when I grow up." Talk over and share: What do you love about your
school? What's so special about Mr. Slinger? What makes a great teacher?
The Lightbulb Lab
One thing Lilly loves at school is Mr. Slinger's Lightbulb Lab. There, students can
express their ideas creatively through drawing and writing.Talk over why it's called
the Lightbulb Lab. If you don't already have such an area in your classroom, why
not set one up?
What's in the Purple Plastic Purse?
Using ingenuity and your own innate creativity, buy, borrow, modify, or create
your own purple plastic purse as a prop to use after reading the story aloud. Place
in it a variety of objects that begin with the letter P, such as: a Popsicle stick, a
potato, a stuffed pig, a puppet, a pea pod, a pearl, a pencil, or even a pair of
pants.
Give everyone a clue to each object's identity, riddle style: "You can mash me or
bake me or fry me, even if you don't live in France. What am II"
When they guess correctly, pull out the spud from your purse and have everyone
recite the following alliterative tongue twister: "Lilly pulled a potato from her
purple plastic purse."
LILLY’S PURPLE PLASTIC PURSE
UW-Green Bay Theatre - 4
CROSS-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Social Studies: Career Opportunities
Point out to children that Lilly wants to be a teacher – as well as a dancer, a pilot,
and surgeon. Have children describe the careers they might want to have when they
grow up. Write their suggestions on the chalkboard. If possible, have adults who
work at the suggested jobs come in and talk about their work with the group
Math: Classroom Shapes
Mr. Slinger suggests that his class sit in a semicircle. Have children draw a semicircle
on a piece of paper. Then tell them to draw other familiar shapes, such as a
rectangle, a square, a full circle, and a triangle. Ask them to find classroom items
that have the shapes they have drawn.
Language Arts: Palindromes
Mr. Slinger says, “Wow!” when he sees Lilly’s artwork. Point out to children that
wow is a palindrome – a word that is the same backwards and forwards. If there are
children in the class named Hannah, Anna, or Bob, point out that their names are
palindromes, such as mom, dad, Otto, and the sentence “Madam, I’m Adam.”
Math: Quarters and More
Remind children that Lilly has three quarters in her new purple plastic purse. Ask
them how much money that is (seventy-five cents). Then ask them to add up these
amounts:
five quarters
two dimes and a nickel
one dime and seven pennies
a quarter and two nickels
three quarters, a dime and a nickel
LILLY’S PURPLE PLASTIC PURSE
UW-Green Bay Theatre- VOCABULARY
When reading the book see if you can find the words below. Do you know what they mean?
Word
Definition
artistic
having or showing the skill of an artist
considerate
thinking about the feelings of other people
deluxe
of better quality and usually more expensive than
the regular ones of its kind
demonstrate
to prove something by showing examples of it
diva
the main female singer in an opera company
fierce
very powerful, strong, or intense
forgive
to stop feeling anger towards someone who
has done something wrong
furious
very angry
glamorous
very exciting and attractive
glittery
having small shiney decorations
interpretive
unique artistic expression
jaunty
having a lively and confident quality
semicircle
half of a circle, an arrangement of people or
things in the shape of half a circle
uncooperative
not willing to do what someone wants or asks for
unique
very special or unusual, unlike anything or
anyone else
LILLY’S PURPLE PLASTIC PURSE
UW-Green Bay Theatre - 6
MAKING THEATRE
Making a play takes a lot of work and a lot of people! Here are
some of the jobs that people have for the show you are going
to see.
DIRECTOR: The director creates the world
of the play. This person picks the actors to
play the parts, and works with costume,
lighting, sound, and set designers to choose
how the story is told to the audience.
STAGE MANAGER: The stage manager
helps rehearsals run smoothly, and makes
sure that information is communicated to
everyone working on the show. This person
also runs the show from backstage. This
means they tell actors when to go on stage,
when the lights need to change, and when a
sound effect or music should be played.
ACTORS: The actors are who you see on
stage during a performance. They work hard
to memorize their lines, learn where and
how to move and bring the characters in the
story to life. In this show, all of the actors
play mice!
DESIGNERS: Each area of the show
(scenery, costumes, make up, props, lights
and sound) has a person who decides what
things look like and how to make them. This
job is very creative and each time a play is
done, different choices can be made.
Designers work together with the Director
and Actors to bring the story to life for the
audience.
LILLY’S PURPLE PLASTIC PURSE
BACKSTAGE CREW: Designers need lots
of help to sew the costumes, make the
props, build and paint the set and set the
lights. During the performance, there are a
lot of people that the audience doesn't see,
moving the set and curtains, controlling the
lights and sound, and helping the actors
backstage.
BOX OFFICE and USHERS: These are the
people you will see when you first get to the
theatre. These people will take your tickets,
and help you find your seats before the show
begins.
UW-Green Bay Theatre - 7
What happens when you
get to the Weidner Center?
Theatre would not be what it is without an audience. In a
movie, the audience watches a recording of the actors that is
projected on the screen. It is exactly the same every time it
is played. In live theatre, the actors are performing right in
front of you and every performance is a little different.
As an audience member, your job at the theatre starts
as soon as you walk through the doors!
What is your job?
1. When you arrive, stay with your class, and listen to your teachers.
2. If you need to use the bathroom, do it before the show begins, you don’t want to distract
the actors, and you don’t want to miss any of the show!
3. Once you are in your seat, make sure you stay in your seat, and sit on your bottoms so the
people behind you can see too.
4. Do not bring food or drinks into the theatre. Most theatres do not allow you to take
photos during a performance.
5. Please do not talk during the show, this can distract the people around you. Make sure
you are listening and watching very closely, so that you can follow the story, and don’t
forget, if something is funny, it’s ok to laugh! This lets the actors know that they are
doing a good job. At the end of a performance the audience claps to show their
appreciation. After the performance, if there is time, you might be able to ask the actors
questions about the show. You can ask how special effects work or what it is like to be a
mouse. Be sure to raise your hand to ask a question.
Enjoy the Show!
LILLY’S PURPLE PLASTIC PURSE
UW-Green Bay Theatre - 8
Additional Resources for Teachers
Author and Illustrator, Kevin Henkes, has information, illustrations, and
activities on his personal website that can be downloaded and printed: http://
www.kevinhenkes.com
Click on “For Teachers”
“Meet the Author” video
Created by TeachingBooks.net
Meet-the-Author Movie with Kevin Henkes
Kevin Henkes talks about his mouse books with Lilly and friends
How to pronounce the author’s name: Audio
Name Pronunciation with Kevin Henkes Created
by TeachingBooks.net
Kevin Henkes page on TeachingBooks.net
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse Audio Book
Audiobook Excerpt narrated by Laura Hamilton
Full Audio Book available for purchase
LILLY’S PURPLE PLASTIC PURSE
UW-Green Bay Theatre - 9