Students are invited to present spoken language performances in Native American languages. Traditional stories, poetry, narratives, skits, puppet shows, and other original spoken language performances are welcome. This category promotes fluency and confidence in spoken language.
CATEGORY DIVISIONS
Groups and individuals may register. Groups may be divided into small groups and large groups depending on registration that year.
Groups with members in mixed age divisions should enter their book in the highest grade level present in the group. Example: Groups who span 5th – 6th grades should enter the 6th – 8th grade age division.
AGE DIVISIONS
Pre-K – 2nd Grade
3rd – 5th Grades
6th – 8th Grades
9th – 12th Grades
JUDGING
Students will be judged by
- Amount of Native American Language Used
- Ease of Language Use
- Presentation and Poise
- Spirit of Performance
The judging panel includes Native American language speakers and teachers. There will be at least one elder speaker on the panel.
The Spoken Language Performance presentations are a live category. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each age category receive a trophy. All students with qualified submissions will receive a T-shirt and a medallion. Awards are given at the end of the each performance age category on Day 2. Students must be in attendance to win and collect their prizes. If students leave before their category is ended and are not there for the awards, their place will be forfeited to the next place.
By entering the Spoken Language Performance category, you are agreeing to allow the ONAYLF and/or Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History to video record the performance. This record will become part of the Native American Language collection at SNOMNH and is open access. It may also be used in promotion of the ONAYLF or in Native language teacher training workshops.
How to Prepare for the Spoken Language Performance
- Time limit for performances is 5 minutes, with 2 minutes to set-up and exit the stage. Performances exceeding the time limit may be asked to exit stage.
- Do NOT translate any part of the performance into English.
- Presentation should be practiced and should be performed without notes or help from teachers. Songs should be memorized.
- All teachers and parents must remain offstage and should not give prompts to the students. EXCEPTION: Teachers of Pre-K and Kindergarten classes may be onstage with students.
- We provide microphones and CD players and only allow our own sound equipment in the museum. The use of audiovisual equipment such as DVD’s cannot be accommodated. Please give your audio CD to Registration when you check in.
- Props should supplement a performance not be used as memory aids. We ask that you be respectful of other groups and limit your props to items that can be placed on the stage and removed from the stage within your 2 minutes set-up and exit time so the Fair is able to stay on schedule.
- The museum prohibits the use of food, cardboard, animals, or organic materials such as grass, bark, leaves, etc. Natural items associated with traditional regalia or dress is allowed. Please contact us at onaylf@snomnh.ou.edu or 405-325-7588 if you have concerns about this.
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