Emily Warne
Snapshot
Caviar Taste on a Fishstick Budget
For years, my students have worked on costumes, sets, and props for their spring musicals. They often have lofty, unrealistic goals, but instead of shutting them down, I opt to look at the situation as a “problem-solving opportunity.” In order to best explain the problem we often encounter, I will offer an example from three years ago. We were working on costumes and props for Shrek – The Musical. My kids automatically looked to the Broadway show on Netflix for inspiration. They quickly developed “caviar taste;” however, our program only had a “fish stick budget.” Through their dedication and determination, they produced many costumes both within their dreams and budget; however, our lack of technology did not allow them to create long-wearing costume pieces. Follow me on this journey where we discover if providing students with the proper tools and technology will encourage them to become problem solvers.