Local fifth graders watched a puppet show, learned history, built their own rod puppets and worked on techniques for putting on their own puppet show during the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Honors Program’s annual Catskill Puppet Theater Workshop.
“Puppeteers once again used rod puppets to tell the story of Hiawatha, a peaceful leader who united the five First Nations—Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, and Mohawk—into the Iroquois Confederacy,” Herkimer BOCES Honors Program Coordinator Deborah Schoff said. “Students enjoyed the show as they learned more about a democratic government.”
A total of 29 students from the school districts of Central Valley, Dolgeville, Frankfort-Schuyler, Herkimer, Owen D. Young, Poland, Richfield Springs and West Canada Valley attended the event on Monday, Oct. 6, at Herkimer Central School District.
“After the show, they participated in a question-and-answer session and learned more about the rod puppets and how to put on a puppet show,” Schoff said. “They worked with the puppeteers to create their own rod puppets. They spent time working on techniques to make the puppets move and on how to use their voices to tell a story.”
Being able to host this event at Herkimer Central School District was helpful, Schoff said.
“A special thank you to Herkimer Central School District for hosting the Herkimer BOCES Honors Program,” Schoff said. “Your continued efforts to bring enriching experiences to the students of Herkimer County are very much appreciated.”
The Herkimer BOCES Honors Program is open to students in Herkimer BOCES component school districts and is designed to support the potential of students in grades 3-12 who have above average interests and abilities in a particular area. Programs allow for interaction with like-minded peers. Students learn by engaging in educational activities with presenters who are noted in their field. Exploration and programs provide for different learning styles and include topics in the arts and sciences as well as literature and history. Ongoing evaluation of all programs by teachers and students assures their relevance and quality.
Puppeteers and students from Central Valley, Dolgeville, Frankfort-Schuyler, Herkimer, Owen D. Young, Poland, Richfield Springs and West Canada Valley pose with their puppets during the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Honors Program’s annual Catskill Puppet Theater Workshop on Monday, Oct. 6, at Herkimer Central School District.
Local fifth graders participate in the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Honors Program’s annual Catskill Puppet Theater Workshop on Monday, Oct. 6, at Herkimer Central School District.
