Text A: My Night as a Turnip (a blog post by Aurelio, Room 9)
1Last Friday night, I sang the main part in our class opera, The Turnip Who Wanted to Fly. I played the turnip, so I wore a round purple costume with green leaves on my head. My hands were shaking when I walked onto the stage.
2We had been working on the opera since October. Our class wrote the story and the words to the songs, and Ms. Dunleavy helped us turn our ideas into music. At first, I thought singing every line instead of talking would feel silly. By the last week, it felt normal.
3The best part was my big song in the second act. I was so nervous that I forgot the first line! Then I looked out and saw my grandpa in the front row. He mouthed the words to me, because he had heard me practice them a hundred times at home. I started singing, and my voice got stronger with every note.
4At the end, the audience stood up and clapped for a long time. I felt like I really could fly. I think every fourth grader should get to write an opera.
Text B: Fourth Graders Write and Perform Their Own Opera (from the Oakmere Valley News)
1Students at Oakmere Elementary School performed an opera they wrote themselves last Friday evening. The opera, The Turnip Who Wanted to Fly, tells the story of a vegetable that dreams of leaving the ground.
2The project began in October. The 24 students in Room 9 spent about five months on the opera. They wrote the story, made up the words to the songs, and painted the scenery. Music teacher Ms. Dunleavy helped the class write the music.
3In most operas, performers sing their lines instead of speaking them. "Many people think opera is only for grown-ups," said Ms. Dunleavy. "These students showed that kids can create one, too."
4About 200 people filled the school gym for the show. Tickets were free, but families were asked to give money to the school's music program. The class collected more than $600, which will be used to buy new instruments. The students will perform the opera again next month at the Oakmere Senior Center.