MicheLee Puppets

Some of the issues and approaches that MicheLee Puppets uses include:

• Health - for example, EXTREME Health Challenge is a "wacky play that uses 'kooky' puppet characters and even 'kookier' actors to teach elementary age children how to take great care of their bodies! Through a series of challenges, battles of wit, audience participation and puppetry mayhem, children laugh and learn about the importance of good nutrition and active lifestyles." To enhance and extend the learning process, colourful posters, a DVD with 5 healthy messages (see I Drinky Water, below), and a multi-disciplinary activity guide are sent to the participating schools. EXTREME Health Challenge is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant recipient.
• Bullying - MicheLee Puppets developed two age-appropriate bully prevention programmes to assist schools in meeting state mandates that require addressing the issue of bullying. They include: (i) A Good Day for Pancake, for PreK-2nd grade students, which tells the story of Pancake Pig. When Pancake's friend is repeatedly bullied at school, Pancake Pig doesn't know what to do. He learns that bystanders have a responsibility to report bullying. Pancake helps stop the bullying and teaches everyone a valuable lesson. (ii) BSI 2.0: Super Agents, for grades 3-5, which trains students on bully prevention techniques. The Super Agents, along with a cast of puppet characters, are designed to give students the edge they need to identify bullying behaviours, protect themselves from bullies, and defend others from bullies by becoming responsible bystanders. The hope is that students will have fun interacting throughout training to gain coveted Bully Scene Investigator Super Agent status and learn the official Super Agent handshake.
• The environment - for example, Ruby Reef is an interactive production designed to challenge students to think globally and act locally to preserve Florida’s barrier reef.
• Gender/rights - for example, in Every 90 Seconds, actors and various styles of puppetry unleash a world where young adult audiences safely explore the struggles of a teen and decisions she must face after being raped.

Children.