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Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Skillbuilder workshops – learning through doing and reviewing


Skillbuilder Workshops, brain child of education/literacy advocate Maggie Rollings, is in its second summer at Copperopolis Branch Library. The workshop follows different ‘menus’ and approaches to learning, covering seemingly each possible learning avenue for a child. 

At the 7-19-12 Skillbuilder workshop the children were read a book with a moral based on the negative consequences of cheating. To reinforce the moral the children were then split into groups of their choice to create and perform a puppet show. The groups consisted of: actors, stage/set designers, puppet makers, and marquis creators. Each child chose their group and scampered off to create with a flourish. 





Within a short amount of time, lines were learned, spoon puppets were completed (dresses, hair and wobbly eyes all in place), the stage was build (curtain and all) and the marquis proudly displayed the name the group has chosen for their play…. “The Golden Rule and Cheating.”
At the completion of the performance the children regrouped and went over the events of the day learning that working with their strengths together,  they were a great team. All the while the underlying moral seeped through in a positive reinforced manner.
If you want your child to participate in skill builder workshops please visit the Copperopolis Branch 
Library for more information.