First-grader Grayson Palmer was making a suncatcher while waiting for his third-grade sister, Margo Palmer, and others to take the stage in Sprucewood Elementary’s production of “Rats! The Story of the Pied Piper.” 

It was Sprucewood’s arts night where the 330 students also could participate in hands-on art, perform with the orchestra or in the musical and show their families art they made throughout the year, which was on display.

The art was part of the Beverley Taylor Sorenson program, which reinforces learning subjects, such as math, science, social studies and topics in students’ curriculum, through art. For example, first graders learned about author Eric Carle, then used oil pastels, paint and watercolor to create themselves hanging onto a star, inspired after reading his book, “Draw Me A Star.”

Students learned from their art teacher Kristen Benshoff about famous artists, such as fifthgraders studying American artist Georgia O’Keeffe before creating close-up portraits of flowers in her style. The program also encourages students to try different forms of art, such as secondgraders discovering how to make faux stained glass in two different styles. 

With Grayson was his mother, Sprucewood PTA President-Elect Emma Frost.

“This is a great opportunity for kids to show off their art skills and for their parents to validate their hard work,” she said. “Many times, parents are busy when kids bring home their schoolwork, but tonight, it’s displayed in frames and it’s a big deal. It’s a way for everyone to see everybody’s artwork and all of them were completely different. It’s fun to see the personal interpretations and creativity.” 

While the art of display was taken from throughout the year, the musical’s rehearsals began in January. Margo was Rat No. 3.

“When I learned that, I ordered fabric for her costume from England because rat fabric is not common,” she said and made her daughter a dress to wear for the performances. “I was going to make all the rats skirts, but half of the rats were boys. She’s been excited, singing songs for the last couple months. It’s a fun show and they make cheesy little jokes. She’s let on a little of what to look for, like she’s getting to steal two bags of money.”

Grayson, and others, got to help decorate the multipurpose room where the performance was by coloring their own paper rats with their favorite things. The rats ranged from college and professional sports teams to pictures of dogs and hiking boots.

“It’s fun they included everyone in the school to be part of it in some way,” she said. “The musical is a big deal here.”

The show was directed by Christina Van Dam, who is the choir director, along with choreographer Madeleine Guymon and set designed Shannon Saltzsieder.

“It was amazing,” Van Dam said. “We had standing room only.”

Sprucewood offers choir to second through fifth graders in the fall. Then this spring, 75 students performed in the musical.

“Performing in a show gives them the opportunity to get into a character, to have the chance to have individual roles. It’s fun for them to have that experience of memorizing lines and doing acting with the music versus just singing. They loved having costumes they designed and using set pieces and props, things they don’t have with a concert. Some of them have never done something like this, so it gives them the opportunity to try different things to see if it’s something they may like,” she said.

Van Dam said students gain skills in addition to learning about theater and music.

“They learn how to be part of a team and how to be patient and wait their turn. They learn how to encourage one another and be each other’s biggest support. When our pied piper played the recorder and they heard it for the first time, they were all cheering for him; they’re being positive with each other and excited for each other. That is something big in today’s world—celebratingone another. They learned they don’t always get the roles they want and realize they can still be a part of the musical and have a really great experience. It’s good for our littles to learn that we don’t always get exactly what we want and how to learn to accept that positively,” she said.

Students also gain confidence through performing, Van Dam said.

“We had one of our kiddos, who when he got his role, was really nervous. His mom let us know he was anxious, but she said through this experience, it helped him blossom and he was amazing; the kids really supported him,” she said. “A bunch of the parents came up, thanking us for providing this opportunity for their kiddos and the kids loved it. They were bummed when I said, ‘No choir tomorrow, we’re done.’ They asked if they could keep coming. They don’t want to be done.”

Kathy Rydman of Riverton was part of the audience at the musical; her grandson, fourth-grader Xander Oquendo, was one of the rats.

“He didn’t tell me the show was about the Pied Piper; he kept that as a secret, under tight lips,” she said before they went to see the artwork together. “I love being able to come and support him and the kids here. I come help whenever they need me—classroom activities, their spring dance, ice cream socials. This is a good community that provides students with lots of opportunities.”