Comical, educational and highly interactive puppet presentations.
Select audience members will have a chance to become puppeteers within each of the stories.
**** Scroll down to see all program descriptions of our interactive puppet presentations. ****
The following videos are samples of how I direct the youth in each scene and how the youth add their own comical twist.
The family, left to right. Clover Blossom, Bear Paws, Grey Stone, Rabbit and Strawberry.
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1) Graphic Novels: How to create a graphic novel page based on the 7 Grandfathers
The idea is to create a single graphic novel page, from story concept to page layout, from the students own personal experiences and imagination and connect the story to the Seven Grandfather Teachings.
Space needed is the classroom or gym. Set-up time needed 30 minutes/ Pack up time 30 minutes. Session time 50 minutes.
Recommended for grades 2-12.
Contact: Chad Solomon at chadsol@gmail.com for availability and cost of presentation.
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2) Rabbit and Bear Paws – The Way
In this interactive puppet theater called; Rabbit and Bear Paws: The Way, we retell the
A story of how the Turtle carries our world on her back and how the tiny muskrat succeed in giving all of us the greatest gift of all. A place to call home, Turtle Island.
Space needed is the gym or open space of library. Set-up time needed 40 minutes/ Pack up time 40 minutes. Session time 50 minutes.
Recommended for Day care – up to grade 9
Lead up/ Follow up activities: Here is the link for activities that you can do with your class/ group or community rabbit-and-bear-paws-the-way
Contact: Chad Solomon at chadsol@gmail.com for availability and cost of presentation.
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3) Bullying with puppets: Rabbit and Bear Paws
In this interactive puppet program; Students become puppeteers to discover how to resolve bullying with restorative justice.
Space needed is the gym or open space of library. Set-up time needed 30 minutes/ Pack up time 30 minutes. Session time 50 minutes.
Recommended for Grades JK- up to grade 9
Lead up/ Follow up activities: Here is the link for activities that you can do with your class/ group or community rabbit-and-bear-paws-bullying
Contact: Chad Solomon at chadsol@gmail.com for availability and cost of presentation.
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4) Bullying: Kanensan the Skeleton Bully
Rabbit, Bear Paws and Strawberry are out in the woods when they meet Kanensan—a human skull looking for the rest of his body! Kanensan was a bully in his previous life, and wants to make up for his past deeds. Rabbit, Bear Paws and Strawberry take Kanensan on a hilarious journey to find the rest of his body and learn about the teachings of the Seven Grandfathers. It’s only by learning from our brothers and sisters, the animals in nature, that Kanensan can truly learn and find peace—but for an opinionated bully, that will be easier said than done!
Space needed is the gym. Set-up time needed 90 minutes/ Pack up time 90 minutes. Session time 50 minutes.
Recommended for Grades JK- up to grade 9
Lead up/ Follow up activities: Here is the link for activities that you can do with your class/ group or community rabbit-and-bear-paws-skeleton-bullying
Contact: Chad Solomon at chadsol@gmail.com for availability and cost of presentation.
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5) Nanabozhoo and the Ducks
Nanaboozhoo and the Ducks is a traditional story about music, greed and fowl behavior. A young Nanaboozhoo is very hungry and finds himself near several ducks who would make a fine meal. The ducks are clever, and Nanaboozhoo will have to use all of his wits to capture them for dinner. But just as it looks like Nanaboozhoo is about to taste success, his own ego may cause his failure! This classic story shows why it is always a good idea to humble. Also included is the teaching of the Medicine Wheel.
Space needed is the gym. Set-up time needed 90 minutes/ Pack up time 90 minutes. Session time 50 minutes.
Recommended for Grades JK- up to grade 9
Lead up/ Follow up activities: Here is the link for activities that you can do with your class/ group or community rabbit-and-bear-paws-ducks
Contact: Chad Solomon at chadsol@gmail.com for availability and cost of presentation.
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6) COUNCIL OF THE ANIMALS
COUNCIL OF THE ANIMALS is a story of friendship and unconditional love.
Travel back to the dawn of human memory, when all the animals lived in harmony with each other. Then, one sunny day, a bear cub discovered a little bundle of joy: the first man! He was raised and educated by our elders, the animals, learning much from them, but also becoming dependent on them. And so the animals formed a council to determine what to do about mankind. With man’s future looking uncertain, his best chance to survive the judgment of the council would lie with his best friend… the Dog. Find out how the faithful Dog saves the day in this funny and touching puppet show!
Space needed is the gym or open space of library. Set-up time needed 30 minutes/ Pack up time 30 minutes. Session time 50 minutes.
Recommended for Grades JK- up to grade 9
Lead up/ Follow up activities: Here is the link for activities that you can do with your class/ group or community rabbit-and-bear-paws-council
Contact: Chad Solomon at chadsol@gmail.com for availability and cost of presentation. 
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7) Dream Catcher and the Seven Grandfathers :
While Rabbit is fasting in the forest at the top of the mountain, he dreams of a Grandmother spider who guides him to seven special animals. These seven animals share with Rabbit what it means to walk a good path through life, through understanding of the Seven Grandfathers of Courage, Respect, Humility, Honesty, Truth, Love, and Wisdom.
Session Length: 50 minutes. Set-up time: 50 minutes. Pack-up time: 50 minutes. Space needed: Gym
Group size: one class to whole school. Recommended for Grades 1-9
Lead up/ Follow up activities: Here is the link for activities that you can do with your class/ group or community rabbit-and-bear-paws-dream-catcher
Cost: contact Contact: Chad Solomon at chadsol@gmail.com for availability and cost of presentation.
This picture was taken with the help on Nimkii Osawamick.
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8) Treaties, Environment and Land : A funny story of sustainability with ONE bowl, ONE spoon and a whole lot of POPCORN!
There was a time when people and animals knew that we should only take enough food and water for our own personal needs. For if we took more food and water then we needed, there may not be enough for us tomorrow. Discover how Rabbit, Bear Paws and the Animals come to this agreement, to save the food and water for tomorrow. With ONE bowl ONE spoon and a whole lot of POPCORN.
Session Length: 50 minutes. Set-up time: 50 minutes. Pack-up time: 50 minutes.
Space needed: Gym
Group size: one class to whole school. Recommended for Grades 1-9
Lead up/ Follow up activities: Here is the link for activities that you can do with your class/ group or community rabbit-and-bear-paws-treaties
Cost: contact Contact: Chad Solomon at chadsol@gmail.com for availability and cost of presentation.
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9) Health: Choose your own path, is a funny and interactive puppet play about making the smart choices (mental, emotional, physical and spiritual) in life. Select audience members will have a chance to become puppeteers within the story.
The Rabbit and Bear Paws: Choose your own path is a comical story about the ‘Two Paths’ that is open to every person. Path ONE: Is the natural path. Path TWO: The Other path, is the path that is full of challenges (mental, emotional, physical and spiritual) from bullies, ourselves and others who say we can not achieve our own personal goals.
The audience will have the opportunity to decide what path they would like to the story to follow and see the consequences of those decisions in this new and interactive comical puppet story of Rabbit and Bear Paws: Choose your own path.
Session Length: 120 minutes. Set-up time: 90 minutes. Pack-up time: 50 minutes.
Space needed: Gym
Group size: whole school. Recommended for Grades 1-9
Lead up/ Follow up activities: Here is the link for activities that you can do with your class/ group or community rabbit-and-bear-paws-health
Cost: contact Contact: Chad Solomon at chadsol@gmail.com for availability and cost of presentation.
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10) Astronomy: Honouring the Ancestors and understanding the stars
The Fisher, an animal like that of a weasel, lived in the winter world where many of his friends went hungry and cold. To protect his friends, the Fisher created a plan to steal summer from the summer animals and share it with the winter animals. His courage and sacrifice were honoured when the Fisher was given a placed among the stars. Every year, the Fisher crosses the sky. In the winter sky, the arrow strikes him and he rolls onto his back; but as winter ends, he climbs to his feet and starts out once more to bring warm weather back to the land.
This teaching reminds us that the harmonious survival and well being of all creation is dependent upon sharing and respect for the Great Laws of Nature.
Session Length: 50 minutes. Set-up time: 50 minutes. Pack-up time: 50 minutes.
Space needed: Gym
Group size: one class to whole school. Recommended for Grades 1-9
Lead up/ Follow up activities: Here is the link for activities that you can do with your class/ group or community rabbit-and-bear-paws-stars
Cost: contact Contact: Chad Solomon at chadsol@gmail.com for availability and cost of presentation.
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11) Sports: why birds fly south for the winter?
Do you wonder why birds fly south for the winter? Or why we have winter in the first place? These answers lie in the story of Mong the loon, and his love of the sport lacrosse. Long ago, Mong assembled a team of birds to challenge Kaikak the hawk and his team of formidable rivals. Their dramatic lacrosse matches became a tale of legend with a surprising end: the oncoming of winter, which forced Mong and his team to retreat south to warmer climates.
Although Mong did not find the victory he wanted, his actions actually had a huge benefit, because the winter brought a new balance to the summer climates, and gave people everywhere a new found respect for nature.
Session Length: 50 minutes. Set-up time: 50 minutes. Pack-up time: 50 minutes.
Space needed: Gym
Group size: one class to whole school. Recommended for Grades 1-9
Lead up/ Follow up activities: Here is the link for activities that you can do with your class/ group or community rabbit-and-bear-paws-birds
Cost: contact Contact: Chad Solomon at chadsol@gmail.com for availability and cost of presentation.
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11) Bizindaage-he-she-listens-to-someone
The child who would be a Robin.
Rabbit’s father, Grey Stone, is very excited to help his son on his first fast, and tells
Rabbit that he must fast for 12 days — longer than anyone in the village ever has.
Nervous, but not wanting to disappoint his father, Rabbit agrees. While fasting,
the spirits warn Rabbit of a danger ahead if he does not quit.
Feeling confused, alone, and depressed that no one will listen to him, Rabbit’s
thoughts turn dark. Will Rabbit turn into a Robin and fly away, or will someone finally
listen to him?
Session Length: 50 minutes. Set-up time: 50 minutes. Pack-up time: 50 minutes.
Space needed: Gym
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12) Spirit of Winter
Spirit of Winter
Winter winds howl and crack the pine trees under the heavy snows. With little to no food left after a long winter. Rabbit and Bear Paws go in search of the Spirit of Winter to ask for his help. Only to discover that the Spirit of Winter is selfish and greedy. With the last of their wild rice almost gone. Rabbit and Bear Paws share the last of their food with the Spirit of Winter. Will the Spirit of Winter finally help or will the boys need to find another way to help the community?
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13) Water is Life
Water is life.
Marooned and washed ashore, Rabbit and Bear Paws, are trapped on a tiny island with no way home. So Rabbit sings a water song to call the help of the water spirit – Mishibijiw. Mishibijiw takes Rabbit and Bear Paws on a journey to discover the importance of understanding that all fire (life) is born in water.
Space needed is the gym or open space of library. Set-up time needed 30 minutes/ Pack up time 30 minutes. Session time 50 minutes.
Recommended for Grades JK- up to grade 9
Lead up/ Follow up activities: Here is the link for activities that you can do with your class/ group or community
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Testimonials
What people say about our performances.
“Rabbit and Bear Paw was the most engaging presenter we have had at our school. Chad Solomon involves the students in all most every aspect of his show, while at the same time keeping them from getting too silly. His mix of humour and knowledge allows him to communicate his message of inclusiveness and equality in an effective way that reaches the students. The presentation takes twists and turns with many unique surprises along the way. Should the right circumstance present itself I’d not hesitate to have him back in our school”
Chad Lechner
Prinicipal
Davison School
Melville, Sk
