Savona. Throughout the morning of Thursday 6 June in the Aula Magna in via Aonzo of the Mazzini Da Vinci institute in Savona, several classes were invited to share an educational and inclusive project that the school created through support teachers. This is a theatrical emotional laboratory called “Emotions in the limelight”.
The laboratory was carried out from 15 January to 4 June 2024 in one of the classrooms in Via Aonzo and was conducted by the support teacher Angelo Lombardo, pedagogist and counselor. 44 people actively participated, including 22 children and 22 teachers or educators.
The total hours of the laboratory were 76, divided between the laboratory on emotions (28 hours) and theatrical activity (48 hours). The initial part on emotions was preparatory to the creation of the theater show which then resulted in the creation of 10 sketches.
During this first emotional phase, various activities were carried out aimed at creating a good group climate and improving knowledge of oneself and others. In the proposed laboratory activities, among other things, topics such as trust, the importance of the gaze and voice and awareness of one’s body were addressed.
The 10 sketches covered various themes of everyday life in the spirit of light-heartedness, comedy and fun. All the work was filmed and a short film was made.
As a result of the experience, the students who participated, some with significant disabilities, made notable improvements in their self-confidence, improved self-esteem and sense of self-efficacy. From their testimonies it emerged that at the beginning of the journey they would not have expected such changes.
As anticipated, the laboratory involved not only the students, but also the teachers and educators who got involved as an active part of the project.
In this way, the children were also able to get to know the teachers better because, having seen them detached from their role as teachers, they were able to better appreciate their humanity.
During the presentation on 6 June, several proposals emerged regarding the opportunity to repeat the laboratory experience and extend it to other students for the next school year 2024-2025. Many spectators (both teachers and students) greatly appreciated its success.
In addition to Angelo Lombardo, special mention and thanks must also be given to the teachers and educators Andrea Airaghi, Anna Benzi, Aristea Zecchi, Donatella Comune, Eliana Pulichino, Francesca Frumento, Gino Giacobbe, Jacopo Ghigliazza, Matteo Costantini, Mila Zangelmi, Paola Di Masi, Roberta Guercio, Sergio Pennavaria and Valentina Ansaldo, who with perseverance and great dedication believed in the project completely.
Furthermore, the school thanks Michela Vernazza who oversaw both the filming and the creation of the short film, demonstrating exceptional professionalism and spirit of adaptation. Finally, the school thanks the Bar Gavotti of Savona for its willingness to use the outdoor spaces to allow a sketch of the short film to be filmed.
