Every study guide must contain the following elements:

• Title and description of program or exhibition (what teachers can expect to see, what will happen).
• Information relating to performance/exhibition genre or content.
• Pre & Post activities teachers can do in the classroom with their students. (See: Developing Activities by Discipline link.)
• Sunshine State Standards addressed by these activities.
• Bibliography/Discography.
• Additional information relating directly to your program. For example pictures, lyrics, important stories, historical or geographical information, etc.
• Bio for artist(s) or company.
• Put in the required credit line (which is slightly different from past years): "This program is presented as part of the Artists-in-the-Schools Program, which is funded and jointly sponsored by the Hillsborough County School District and the Arts Council of Hillsborough County."

 

Questions to help identify the above criteria:

• What's the content? Give a story synopsis, list of selections to be played, list of artwork, etc.
• Why is this important? What should the students know and be able to do when they have completed these materials and experienced the performance or exhibition?
• Who are the characters or artists in the performance or exhibition? List/describe characters or artists.
• What background information (historical and/ or cultural perspective) is needed to understand the performance or exhibition?
• What events, sounds, etc. should the audience look for in the performance? What events contributed to the creation of the artwork? What's the turning point in the action? Which instruments provide the rhythm in the selection?
• Which Sunshine State Standards does the performance or exhibition address?

  This much information will give the students enough information to attend carefully to what they're experiencing.

 

Additional Suggestions:

• Include information about the art form. Costuming information, from page to stage, a dancer's shoe, etc.
• Experience the art form (act out a scene, practice movement and use of time, space, energy, rhythm, make "found" instruments, paint a vase in the "Red Figure" style).
• Include information about the author, composer, artists, etc.
• Include a glossary of terms or vocabulary list.
• Activities should provide for reading, writing, speaking and listening.
• Include a list of additional resources.

 

Other thoughts:

• Activities for younger children should be shorter, more focused and should definitely include DOING, rather than listening.
• Make the materials as simple and straightforward as possible. Design them for teachers with no background in the arts and not a lot of time to devote to this undertaking.
• Make the materials attractive and visually interesting, with a good deal of white space, especially material to be placed directly in the students' hands.
• Provide a way for teachers to evaluate the materials.
• Make interdisciplinary connections whenever possible.
• Make certain you've secured the necessary copyright clearances and permissions.
• Double check grammar and mechanics. Your study guide is to be used by teachers and they will notice errors!
• Supplies or materials used in pre & post activities should be things that teachers are likely to have in the classroom.
• Include information about behavior policies, etiquette for theater, etc.