Brave Schools builds inclusive school communities through our immersive, multi-day Interactive Theatre Programs that engage young people in solving real-world problems through role-play, puppetry, song, and movement.
Wembley’s New Friends
Pre-K | 25 Students Max | 5 1-Hour Sessions
Outcomes: Students gain self-awareness, problem-solving skills, creative thinking strategies, a respect for diversity, and an excitement for reading.
About: Students help Wembley the Worm adjust to his new school surroundings by learning how to name feelings, self-regulate, make friends, and handle big emotions.
Welcome Armadillo, Somos Comunidad
Kindergarten | 25 Students Max | 5 1-Hour, English-Spanish Bilingual Sessions
About: Music, puppetry, and performance are used to spark imaginations as we journey into an animal sanctuary to make new friends.
Outcomes: Students learn social emotional skills like self-awareness, self-management, and relationship skills.
The Heroes / Los Héroes
1st Grade | 15-25 Students | 5 1-Hour, English-Spanish Bilingual Sessions
About: In this interactive, bilingual performance, Teaching Artists use role-play, puppetry, song, movement, and games to teach a 4-step conflict resolution process. Students join Sam the Salamander as he sets off on a journey from Barton Springs to Costa Rica to Mt. Kilimanjaro to discover the four steps to peace.
Outcomes: Students gain social and emotional skills by learning: a 4-step conflict resolution process; to identify, manage, and respectfully respond to their own and others’ emotions.
TEKS Addressed: Science, Social Studies, Health Education
Access The Heroes/Los Heroés accompanying album here.
A Pirate Friendship
2nd Grade | 15-25 Students Per Classroom | 5 1-Hour Sessions
About: Students help pirate clans learn how to get along with those who are different. Students strengthen literacy skills using the book The Secret Footprints as they explore how to listen, respect various perspectives, and help friends.
Outcomes: Students improve their literacy skills and gain enthusiasm for reading through an interactive, theatre-based adventure; teachers learn new tools for teaching literacy.
TEKS Addressed: English/Language Arts, Reading
Themes & Skills: Celebrating Differences, Critical Thinking, Cultural Respect, Diversity
Turn the World Around
3rd Grade | 15-25 Students Per Classroom | 5 1-Hour Sessions
About: Critical thinking and creative problem solving are employed as students dive into the book, The Araboolies of Liberty Street. Using their creativity, they work together to save the future by focusing on being brave and using teamwork.
Outcomes: Students improve their literacy skills and gain enthusiasm for reading through an interactive, theatre-based adventure; teachers learn new tools for teaching literacy.
TEKS Addresses: English/Language Arts, Reading
Themes & Skills: Celebrating Differences, Critical Thinking, Cultural Respect, Diversity
The Courage to Stand
4th Grade | 15-25 Students | 5 1-Hour Sessions
This program is generously supported by Hank and Yvette Farrell.
About: By exploring historical acts of courage, including moments from the Holocaust and the Civil Rights Movement, students learn to examine the choices, risks, and consequences of intervening to help the target in a bullying situation. This interactive performance teaches young people to creatively investigate the idea of courage and how to act as a “courageous bystander.”
Outcomes: Students learn how to safely intervene in a bullying situation and act as a “courageous bystander” while developing social studies, literacy, and social emotional skills, including healthy risk taking, listening, communication, critical thinking, empathy, and leadership.
TEKS Addressed: Art, Language Arts, Social Studies, Interpersonal Skills
Themes & Skills: Anti-Bullying, Conflict Resolution, Empathy, Responsible Decision-Making
Courage in Action
5th Grade | Up to 30 Students | 5 1-Hour Sessions
About: Students discover that they have the power to create positive change in their community through this interactive performance. By exploring activism through the story of civil rights leader César Chávez, students learn what it means to be a confident leader and how they can use leadership skills to address present-day issues they identify in their community.
Outcomes: Students gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to be allies and leaders in their communities by learning how to verbalize when they recognize a problem, resolve conflicts positively, and educate their peers about issues they face.
TEKS Addressed: Supplement to General Health Curriculum, Social Studies, Language Arts, Interpersonal Skills
Themes & Skills: Social & Emotional Learning, Conflict Resolution, Leadership, Responsible Decision-Making, Cooperation
Crossing the Line
6th-7th Grades | 25 Students | 5 1-Hour Sessions
About: Through interactive theatre and dialogue, students define boundaries, consent, permission, and sexual harassment while rehearsing ways to be an ally to a peer. Students experience the complicated world of middle school conflicts through the eyes of four 7th grade characters. Developed with the UT School of Nursing, the program examines harassment and bullying through social media as well as in-person.
Outcomes: Students develop important social and emotional skills, such as responsible decision-making, self awareness, and empathy, as they prepare to enter high school. Youth learn about bullying, sexual harassment, healthy vs. unhealthy relationships, boundaries and consent, gender roles and stereotypes, and how to be a courageous bystander.
TEKS Addressed: Supplement to General Health Curriculum
Themes & Skills: Cyberbullying and social media, Boundaries, Consent, Responsible Decision-Making, Relationship Skills
Brave Schools offers campuses opportunities to deepen the community impact of these programs through extension activities, parent workshops, professional development, and more.
Learn more about the Brave School program and the details of participation here.
We’re proud to call the following sites Brave Schools! If you’re interested in bringing the Brave Schools program to your school, please contact Programs@creativeaction.org.
Rodriguez Elementary
Sunset Valley Elementary
Widén Elementary
Private/Charter:
NYOS Charter School
Del Valle ISD:
Gilbert Elementary
Newton Collins Elementary
Eanes ISD:
Valley View Elementary
Barton Creek Elementary
Manor ISD:
Decker Elementary
Lagos Elementary
Oak Meadows Elementary
Pioneer Crossing Elementary