CLIMB, or Creative Learning through Ideas using Mind and Body, Theater visited Cook County schools in November. Above: Students at Oshki Ogimaag in Grand Portage had fun learning about differences and similarities. Right: There was lots of laughter as Cook County Middle School students played an interactive game with the CLIMB presenters.
Cook County has hosted CLIMB Theater workshops for a number of years. The theater group focuses on social skills and character education while entertaining students. The energetic theater company was back in November, focusing on the topics of empathy, exclusion and cliques.
CLIMB stands for Creative Learning through Ideas using Mind and Body and the actors present the material in a fun, fresh way, providing a memorable experience.
The actors visited for two days and worked with groups of around 20 students for 40-minute sessions at Sawtooth Elementary, Cook County Middle School, Oshki Ogimaag and Great Expectations School.
Middle school students had the opportunity to play an interactive game that helped participants consider their similarities and differences. Following was an activity and skit designed to let participants reflect on how it feels to be excluded and practice standing up for what they believe rather than being bystanders when others are not being treated with respect.
Cook County Youth Programs Coordinator Melissa Wickwire noted that students found this was not an easy task. “Participants revealed that young people are conflicted over wanting to do the right thing and by wanting to be accepted by their peers,” said Wickwire.
The CLIMB leaders did not tell students what to say or feel but rather created a situation in which the youth felt comfortable practicing what they already knew about empathy and exclusion in order to reinforce their skills. Through the use of movement and humor while addressing a serious topic, students were eager to participate in the lesson.
Wickwire shared the words of a 6th grade participant involved in a skit, demonstrating that the message of the program was received: “Everyone deserves to be treated with respect, even if they are different than you.”
Above: During the interactive presentation, CLIMB Theater actors do not tell students what to say or feel. Instead they create a situation in which youths feel comfortable practicing what they already know about empathy. This young man at Oshki Ogimaag took the lesson very seriously.
Younger students learned about empathy and bullying. Age-appropriate dramatic play enabled the students to imagine what it feels like to be someone else. The kids brainstormed and practiced scenarios using empathy in the classroom, on the playground and on the bus.
The children practiced what can be done if they are targets or bystanders of bullying. They practiced using body language and tone of voice to be assertive while saying, “I don’t like what you’re doing and I want you to stop!”
The CLIMB Theater actors, Gabby and Heather, said that Cook County children were very energetic and willing to try new things. They were also impressed that they heard new ideas and viewpoints from the kids that they hadn’t heard in the four months that they have been traveling and presenting together. The actors encouraged adults to participate in the workshops along with the children. The actors hope that the short performances will be memorable and provide a reference for teachers to use when issues of empathy and inclusion arise.
Wickwire said, “As long as feedback from the programs is positive and funding is available, we can look forward to the Climb Theater visits each year.”
The funds to bring CLIMB Theater to Cook County for three full days of programming came from the North Shore Collaborative, from individuals who have designated though their Target credit cards and from volunteers at First and Second Thrift Store who have designated the funding.
“Smiles, laughing and engaged participation were clues that each group enjoyed the program,” said Wickwire. “While the surveys that the participants filled out were overwhelmingly positive, the unofficial review was overheard in a hallway after a performance: ‘That was cool.’ Hopefully that means ‘I’m going to keep practicing treating others with empathy and respect.’”
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