WMU Elementary learns ‘It’s Okay to be Different’

CEDAR FALLS — On Tuesday, Feb. 21 Winfield Mt. Union students enjoyed a musical performance that highlighted the positive differences of individuals.

Traveling to University of Northern Iowa, kindergarten through second grade students watched and learned as Todd Parr’s It’s Okay to be Different, musical featuring puppets performed at the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center.

According to WMU High School teacher and parent of a first student, Amber Beard, the students are abuzz with excitement about the field trip.

“My son is a first-grader and so is my goddaughter,” Beard said. “They both attended and said they had so much fun and learned some things.”

While Beard said that her student already knew that people have differences, he really enjoyed the show.

“He said the puppets were amazing,” Beard continued.

“They learned about people having different hair colors and skin colors and they just enjoyed every minute of it.”

The students watched as individuals dressed head to toe in black, moved puppets, props, and scenery around the stage to perform Parr’s books This is My Hair, It’s Okay to Be Different, and The Earth Book.

Brightly colors and music filled the stage as the performance took a creative approach to encouraging early literacy, enhancing emotional development, celebrating multiculturalism, and promoting character growth.

This is my Hair offered a silly look into how hair can be different from person to person and from situation to situation.

Students sat captivated as they watched The Earth Book performance encourage happy and healthy earth decisions like using both sides of the paper, taking the school bus, and riding their bikes.

To complete the musical, performers showed how it is OK to look different, feel different emotions, make different choices, and have different families through It’s Okay to be Different.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com