Basic HTML Version
16
washington county arts guide
❘
June — August
By Lisa K. Anderson
T
he pint-sized
performers arrive
dressed as old-time
movie stars and strut down
the red carpet for a “Night of
Mini Stars.”
They open with a Tony-worthy
number, act out a movie medley, dance
across the stage and captivate 200
audience members with three plays.
Funny Farm Early Learning Center,
a nonprofit preschool in the Garden
Home area on the east edge of
Washington County, has kept the arts
at the forefront of its programming,
hosting a popular dinner theater
production the last 10 years.
“We bring that little bit of Broadway
into a preschooler’s universe,” Laura
Rawlins, event chairwoman of Funny
Farm, said. “Even though it’s being
performed in a humble surrounding,
we do it up big.”
An Americans for the Arts report
reveals that while early childhood arts
education has received greater
attention in recent years, “the majority
of funding and programming is
directed to grades K-12, with
preschools being largely underserved.”
Funny Farm leaders and supporters
believe that by exposing students to the
arts at an early age –– 3 to 5 –– the
school demonstrates the significance of
arts education and rallies families to
advocate for the arts in grades K-12.
For the little Judy Garlands, Audrey
Hepburns and Charlie Chaplins from
Multnomah and Washington County
communities, the annual dinner theater
opportunity has been tremendous.
Despite being one of the youngest in
the preschool last year, one 3-year-old
boy didn’t clam up making his foray on
stage –– he dazzled the crowd.
“Some kids are really natural and
comfortable up there,” Rawlins said.
“For the kids who aren’t, it’s an
opportunity to build that self-esteem.
Their imagination is much more open
to exploring. It’s amazing working with
this age group and seeing what they’re
capable of. Once parents start noticing
they have a little diva or rock star, they
embrace the natural talents and
continue to want to foster them.”
Road trip
While Funny Farm focuses on
providing a well-rounded education ––
“the start of a great learning adventure,
not the preparation for a 12-year
sentence” –– art is an integral part of
its curriculum.
This summer, students at Funny
Farmwill venture across the United
States on a virtual all-American road
trip, exploring more than 20 states.
With their moms’ and dads’ help,
the students will chose states to
represent as preschool legislators. On
their adventure, the students will trek
to Hollywood, creating a film.
“It gives the kids an amazing
opportunity to gain self confidence to
be able to express themselves,” said
Marcy Wells, Funny Farm founder,
director and the two-time winner of
national teaching awards.
Along with acting and filmmaking,
preschoolers at Funny Farmmake
personalized calendars during the
holiday season and explore all sorts of
mediums, including pastels, textiles,
pencil drawings and finger painting.
Rawlins and Wells encourage
parents of young children to help them
foster a sense of curiosity –– to reach
out, touch and question, whether it’s a
fountain, a corner of the library or a
mural.
At the end of the 2013 “Night of Mini
Stars,” the young students received a
souvenir programwith photos, actor
bios and cast comments. The tikes’
images were even superimposed into
famous movie posters.
“There’s nothing sweeter at the end
of the day than seeing their sheer joy as
they get on that stage,” Wells said.
“There’s a great sense of community
Early learning center offers preschoolers an opportunity to shine on stage
Stars in training
Fuzzy costumes and expressive hand motions are part of the curriculum at Funny Farm
Early Learning Center, where learning includes art-filled experiences such as “Night of
Mini Stars,” a dinner theatre production that’s now a decade old.
going through something like this and
working together to put on a great show
for others. Confidence and cooperation
are big.”
For more information about Funny
Farm, visit funnyfarmelc.com or call 503-
245-3107.
courtesy of funnny farm
■
Dance
helps build motor control, body relationships and a sense of direction.
■
Drawing, sculpting
and other visual arts develop spatial perception.
■
Learning dance steps
, singing songs and other group activities build social skills.
Children enhance their descriptive, nonverbal and cognitive capabilities by describing people and
things in their world, using pictures, body movements and mime.
■
Repeating stories
, poems and songs strengthens their memory.
— From “Benefits of Arts Education in Young Children” by Americans for the Arts
Art experiences that promote
preschool learning