How many eight and nine year olds can claim that they have been hired to work in an opera company as an electrician, set designer, performer, writer, costume and makeup artist, public relations officer, composer, stage manager or production manager?

When the work we do in school is authentic and meaningful, students tune in, turn on and become intrinsically motivated to learn. After studying all of the jobs in the opera company and their correlating responsibilities, students were eager to get to work.

All company members completed job applications for the three jobs they most wanted. Their objective . . . to convince the director that they would indeed be well suited for these particular professions. They were also asked to solicit a former teacher to serve as a reference for the application process.

After careful consideration and observation in and out of the classroom, all students were hired and signed contracts to signify their commitment. Now we are ready to bring our story to life by taking it to the stage.