Stage One

1. Introduce the play as a rhyming poem.
Play the CD for the students, asking them to pay attention to how the lines are said.

2. Make the masks of the four characters:
Papa Bear, Mama Bear, Baby Bear, Goldilocks

• Bear masks: Using large cardboard (from a discarded box), draw and cut out a rough circle shape measuring approximately 14 inches in diameter. Cut out two more, three in all, each a smaller than the preceding for Mama Bear and Baby Bear. Draw and cut out 3 pairs of semi-circle shapes for the ears. Have students paint these brown, with tempura paints. When dry, staple the ears onto the circle shapes. Using sturdy (packaging) tape, reinforce the ears, taping over the staples on the back of the mask. Draw the eyes, nose, and mouth onto white tagboard. Cut out the shapes and then glue onto the masks. For Papa Bear, draw eye glasses onto the mask directly. For Mama Bear, cut out, color, and glue on a hair bow.
• Goldilocks: Draw an oval head onto cardboard. Allow the children to paint the head tempura paints. (Mix pink, yellow and white to create a peach skin color.) For the hair, cut out a yellow wig shape and glue yellow yarn onto the wig in swirls.
• Make handles for the masks: Cover and three rulers with brown construction paper. Tape them to the backs of the bear masks. Cover one ruler with pink construction paper. Tape it to the back of the Goldilocks mask.

• Draw the comfy chair shapes onto cardboard. Allow students to paint them. Place a child's chair in front of the chair, preferably of the same color.
• For the beds, set chairs side by side to create a bed. Cover each with a different colored blanket.

Make six copies of the play in large font. Allow the students to take turns reading along with the CD. Invite different children to volunteer to be certain characters. In other words, three or four different children might choose to be one character. They can practice taking the masks from each other to take turns in saying the character's lines. Allow students to pick which character they want to be.

(For Kindergarteners and 1st grade students, make one copy of the play in large font. Cut up the sections, assigning the parts yourself and send these home to parents for the children to practice and memorize. Each child should get a one four-line stanza part, or two four-line stanzas, depending on ability level. An advance newsletter explaining a child's role in the upcoming play usually arouses the parents/guardians to help out!)

Stage Three (For children who can already read.)

Make one copy of the play using a larger font. Cut out the various parts (in four line passages) and assign a student's name on each section in pencil. Glue these onto 3" x 5" index cards. Number these cards in bold red. Create a master script that you write in (pencil) each child who will be delivering a certain passage. Keep your script on a clipboard that is marked "Teacher's Copy."

Stage Four

Allow students to practice reading their lines over and over again.
Play the CD for them to practice using fluency and proper vocal influctuations.

Stage Five

Allow all the students to sing the songs in the play. Read the lyrics one line at a time, having the students repeat the lines. Practice singing the songs daily for memorization.

Stage Six

Invite the students to create the background set. Suggestions: a wall-papered room with a window that displays a tree and flowers in the background.

These stages should take about two weeks preparation, utilizing about two hours a day. Next, all you have to do is practice having the children read their lines without the CD, and practice passing the masks back and forth.

Keep the index cards on a table near the stage. Instruct the students to remember which number he/she is reading. Also, seat the children on the floor near the stage in order of how they are reading or reciting their lines.

After four days of rehearsal of running through the play, your class should be ready to perform! Break a leg!