The Comedy Project

This project includes:

• Offer Sequence with the Students
  • 5 Workshops offered by a partner including cultural mediation (all dates will be determined between artist and school, 60 min, in class)
  • Workshop offered by a partner including cultural mediation (the magnitude of the final performance can be determined by the teachers and the students, 60 min)

Total number of classes or groups: 12
This offer is available in English.

Requirements for Participation

• Authorization from school administrator
• Minimum number of groups per school: 2
  Each participant must complete a registration form.
  Make sure each of your colleagues has completed theirs.
  Incomplete registration compromises your participation.

If you do not meet the criteria for the minimum number required to participate in this offer, please contact the resource person.

General Selection Criteria

In view of the popularity of certain project proposals and the number of spaces, selection criteria have been retained:

• A proportional representation of the targeted schools of the two English-language school boards in Montréal as a priority, and of the three French-language school service centers depending on the spaces available
• A representation of the cycles
• The participation of the individual in other offers of artistic and cultural mediation (current school year)
• The participation of the school in other offers of artistic and cultural mediation (current school year).

Description

The Comedy Project, Building an Act
Each class consists of a theme such as Identity, Family, Story, Honesty, etc. Through a series of fun writing exercises, students do an exploration of the self and question how these themes directly pertain to their own lives. As the sessions pass, a body of work is accumulated. Students then take part in the creative writing process and begin constructing their very own comedy act. They will learn how to blend ideas together, share and provide ideas to their peers, and gain valuable public speaking experience through a fun platform like comedy. Improv games are also played to challenge students to think quickly on their feet and strengthen their communication skills.

This offer includes an experimentation that allows participants to reinvest the contents in the targeted program components:

• Cross-Curricular Competencies: To construct his/her identity, To communicate appropriately
• Subject Areas: Drama, Languages

Specific and Measurable Goals

• Allow all elementary school students in disadvantaged Montréal areas to have access to artically meaningful and varied experiences.
• Promote cultural enhancement at school for all students, in partnership with the artists in the Montréal community.
• Allow students to broaden their vision of the world, to shape their identity, to develop the power to act, and find their voice.

Project Sequence

1. Session 1: Identity Workshop
(all dates will be determined between artist and school, 60 min, in class)

Workshop offered by a partner including cultural mediation

Students identify their strongest personality traits, watch comedians talk about their
own identities and they jot down corresponding notes. Improv games follow.

2. Session 2: Family Workshop
(60 min, in class)

Workshop offered by a partner including cultural mediation

Students watch comedians talk about their families and then take notes on their own families and family experiences, we end with new improv scenes and games.

3. Session 3: Story Workshop
(60 min, in class)

Workshop offered by a partner including cultural mediation

Students identify their most memorable stories, the artist will help them punch them up.

4. Session 4: Likes & Dislikes Workshop
(60 min, in class)

Workshop offered by a partner including cultural mediation

Students jot down things they like and dislike and it coincides with the public speaking presentation.

5. Session 5: Mixing and Structuring Ideas
(60 min, in class)

Workshop offered by a partner including cultural mediation

The artist will guide the students to select among their favourite pieces of writing and hone in on creating their set list and talking points.

6. Session 6: Showcase
(the magnitude of the final performance can be determined by the teachers and the students., 60 min, in class)

Workshop offered by a partner including cultural mediation

Students present their comedy act solo or in pairs.

Cost

No cost assumed by the school

A Montréal School For All

Contact person
Nancy Saltarelli : nancy.saltarelli@education.gouv.qc.ca

Partner: Jeff Schouela (Mr.Jeff) Comedy for Kids

All partners are committed to respecting the current health measures defined by Public Health and the CNESST in their various activities.