Dear Teacher or Coordinator,
Thank you for your interest in Perfection, our play and program about epilepsy and body image. This short play and accompanying materials were developed as an awareness and outreach activity in 2004/2005 as a way to involve students of different ages in discussing issues relevant to them. It is designed for grade four and/or five students to participate in production and follow-up activities, which explore themes outlined in their Health Curriculum, including:
i. the influence of the media on body image
ii. identifying factors that lead to healthy relationships
iii. understanding bullying and how it affects the bully, the victim, and bystanders
iv. learning strategies for dealing with social and peer pressure
About The Play:
Perfection explores these themes through the interpersonal relationships of the characters. In the play, the main character Jenny reflects upon her epilepsy and the social pressures it is creating as she is growing up. Supported by a friend that models loyal and supportive behaviour and a mother who insists on encouragement and unconditional love, Jenny gains the strength and wisdom to understand that everyone faces their own challenges. This discovery leads her to deal with her own obstacles in a healthy manner; by liberating herself from the media standards of superficial perfection and choosing instead a reality of approaching life’s challenges in a healthy, socially responsible manner.
About The Handbook:
Included in this handbook are two versions of the play and program Perfection. The first is a Reader’s Theatre Script of the play intended for grade four/five students. The play should take no longer than one hour to rehearse and perform, and we hope you will also allow time for discussion and activities (which can be found in the “Grade 4 Follow-up Activities” section of this handbook). These activities aim to solidify the play’s message and educate students about epilepsy.
Be sure to look for our helpful “Ideas” (marked with a light bulb) at the bottom of certain pages. These are small, extra ideas provided to help you implement the program!
In this handbook, you will also find the second version of the play and program: a full script written to be rehearsed and performed by classes of older students (grades six to twelve) for a grade four/five audience. If the play is being performed by an upper level class, encourage them to lead the discussion and activities in groups with the younger audience members. Flip to the “The Play as Presentation” section of the handbook for more information on presenting the play.
This handbook is intended to make this program easy to implement and to encourage participation and discussion with students of different ages. The most important goal of the program is to make a difference for all parties involved by touching people of different ages in ways which may increase awareness and help children to grow to maturity with confidence and respect.
Following this letter, you will find a few pages of information about epilepsy to aid you in answering any questions that you or your students may have. Please do not hesitate to contact Epilepsy Ontario at 1-800-463-1119 if you have further questions, concerns, or need suggestions or assistance with implementation of the program.
Thank you,
Alysse Rich
Author and Program Coordinator 2004/2005
Click here for the Perfection script.
For more teaching aids, click here.
