By the end of third grade, most Granite Elementary students know their nouns, conjunctions and adjectives. 

They know the preamble of the U.S. Constitution and how a bill becomes a law. They learn that circulation takes nutrition to their cells and can name the planets in the solar system. 

The students realize America is a melting pot with many cultures and languages and realized the need for western expansion in the early days of the United States. 

Those are lessons they look forward to all year long, said teacher Lisa Rausher-Hekking.

“For the past 11 years, all of our third graders have looked forward to putting on ‘Schoolhouse Rock,’” she said. “We used to do other plays, but once we did this, we have never looked back. We start the first day of school with the music. The arts are important and watching the kids grow from the arts, it changes them. You can see it changes these kids for the better.”

Rausher-Hekking hears from the fifth-grade teachers that students come in prepared, knowing the preamble, which typically is memorized in fifth grade. They’ll sing songs to remind themselves about interjections or how a bill becomes a law.

“They learn so much academically, much more than they would if we didn’t do ‘Schoolhouse Rock.’ What they learn will stay with them forever,” she said. “It’s just not the subjects, but they also learn about presenting, memorization and teamwork.”

The last part is critical as “every single third-grade student is included in the performance. Every kid, including our special ed buddies, get parts. We’re all singing, acting and speaking,” Rausher-Hekking said.

That’s the way the students want it
to be.

Last year, third-grader Molly Fenton was one of the peers who reminded the buddies of a song, a hand motion or moving to another part of the stage, which was set up in the school’s multipurpose room for both school and parent performances.

“We’re all helping our buddies do their parts,” she said. “We’re all at the school, being brought up together. We do a lot together; we wouldn’t want them not to be in it.”

Her classmate, Olivia Taylor, adds: “It’s more fun when everyone is involved.”

Rausher-Hekking said she’s amazed when she watches the students interact.

“When kids get on stage with their buddies, it’s awesome. At first, one girl wouldn’t say her part, but with her buddy, she’d say it a little more each week. By the end, the girl said her part by herself. Another buddy knew all the words to the songs, but when it was music time, he was still.  When his buddy smiled and encouraged him, he shouted out every word and did every action. That support was important,” she said.

Being a peer helper is not an assigned task. 

“I have to tell my third graders to be patient; they’ll have their turn to help,” Rausher-Hekking said. “Whenever the buddies needed help on or off the stage, I never had to ask because the gen ed kids were willing and wanting to help their buddies. It hasn’t just been with the show. It’s with recess, it’s when we go to library, art, science or share a special activity together. These kids realize how important it is for these kids to be in the play with us and be a part of their school life,” she said.

Third-grade students also pair up with severe special education first-grade and kindergarten students monthly for activities.

“My students want to miss free time Friday so they can help with their buddies,” she said. “It makes me happy they want to be inclusive.”

Last spring, 60 third graders took the stage for “Schoolhouse Rock, Jr!” Nine third-grade buddies performed amongst their peers. 

Everyone had a favorite song or
moment. 

Many, including Angelique Mutesi, liked “Do the Circulation.” Baldo Arriaga appreciated the impersonation of Elvis performed in the song. Joseph Knapp couldn’t pick his favorite: “I liked them all.”

Lily Lewis thought “it was exciting when we all got our parts” while Roe Seifers was amazed how after months of learning bit by bit, it came together for their performances.

“It was fun doing it in front of everyone,” Roe said.

Isa Dora Diogo wanted to continue singing the songs with her peers even after the show was over.

Special education teacher Leddy Burdiss wasn’t surprised.

“The kids are still singing the songs; I tell them at least once a day we can’t sing or dance right now, but they always ask for ‘Schoolhouse Rock’ anyway,” she said. “It’s been such a great experience for them. I saw them learn to work together to perform together. I grew up doing theater and coming from that background, I can see the value in arts within education, especially for our students with disabilities. Getting exposure not to just the arts itself, but to become a team, to collaborate and to put on something of this scale has been really cool.”

It’s the students’ initiating the interaction between each other is what also impresses Burdiss.

“It’s gratifying to see my students initiate interactions with their peers. If this inclusion at Granite did not exist like it is, I don’t think they would have those opportunities to build relationships with their peers and feel comfortable enough to play or eat with them, invite them to their birthday parties, and those things. I never saw this in school when I was growing up, so it’s been rewarding for me as a teacher, to watch them grow and build those meaningful relationships with each other,” she said.

Laurie Tovey, a new teacher coach for Canyons School District, isn’t surprised.

“We set them up for success because life is outside this little classroom and they need to know how to function with their peers and how to get along with other people, and other people need to know how to get along with our kiddos,” she said. “This isn’t being forced; the kids are reaching out to do these inclusive activities and that’s the best part.”

For the students, it’s a natural part of their schooling.

“We love our buddies, and ‘Schoolhouse Rock’ brings us together; the best part is seeing how happy they are being a part of it,” third-grader Molly said. “I know I’ll look back at the photos and remember all these happy times.” λ