WELCoME To
Pre-Show
Page
1. Who are the Brainstormers?
Shhhh, don’t tell anyone, BUT...
THE Brainstormers are a secret society of 5th graders who use science to go on
amazing adventures.
We’ve let you in on this info because something historic is happening and, well, you seem pretty trustworthy so far...
So don’t let us down!
2. WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS PLAY?
INTo THE PLoT-MoSPHERE:
Three of our club members need your help working on a group project about space that they are really REALLY excited about.
With so many great ideas – from space food to aliens – things might get tense among the group.
Can the Brainstormers use creativity, problem-solving and teamwork to bring the vision together, or will this be the end of the cosmic crew?
what excites you about the future of space exploration?
3. WHERE IN THE WORLD IS THE PLAY? (& WHEN)
SPACE + TIME:
The play takes place, well...here and now. Really! Check the calendar...
In Houston
Today
DID WE SAY HOUSTON? WHAT WE MEANT WAS...
Houston is called Space City because it is home to NASA’s Johnson Space Center, where astronauts train for space missions.
In 1969, when astronauts landed on the Moon, they said,
"Houston, the Eagle has landed."
Since then, Houston has been known as the city of space travel and exploration!
4. Meet the BRAINSToRMERS
Who's on this Cosmic Crew?
These are the characters you'll meet in The Brainstormers, played by professional actors. Read about these 5th graders and see if you find anything that sounds like you or your friends.
WILLA – 10 y.o.
Played by:
Kiya Greene
Qualities:
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Curious
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Steady
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Peacemaker
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Problem solver
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Can be a bit shy, and is sometimes scared to speak up
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She is the Earth in the friend group
NAOMI – 8 y.o.
Played by:
Mayra Monsivais
Qualities:
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Great memory
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Skipped 2 grades
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Lots of energy
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Loves facts and figures
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Fluent in English and Spanish
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Can be a bit intense
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She is the Sun in the friend group
FERGUSON – 10 y.o.
Played by:
Gabriel Mullen
Qualities:
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Has a great imagination and sense of humor
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Lots of energy
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His silliness can sometimes take things off course
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He is the moon in the friend group
5. GOOD TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Mission Prep: Before Blastoff
You don’t need to do any research before seeing The Brainstormers, but we’ve put together some helpful information that might make the show even more exciting!
There are people in space...at this exact moment... doing some really cool stuff...
THE International Space Station (ISS)
In the play, the Brainstormers mention the ISS.
What exactly is that?
Simply put: The International Space Station is a big spaceship that orbits around the Earth.
Astronauts from all over the world live there and do science experiments to learn more about space and our planet.
Here you can see students asking ISS astronauts questions:
Fun Fact:
The area code for the ISS phone is the same as Houston’s: 713!
THE Moon Landings
A long time ago, on July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong & Buzz Aldrin, became the first people to walk on the Moon!
The missions that led them to that moment were called the Apollo missions, and this famous one was called Apollo 11.
When Neil Armstrong stepped onto the Moon, he said a very famous sentence:
"That's one small step for man,
one giant leap for mankind."
These missions helped scientists learn more about space and still inspire people to explore today!
The Artemis missions are NASA’s new program to send astronauts back to the Moon.
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Artemis I launched in 2022 without a crew to test the ship.
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Artemis II will take astronauts around the Moon.
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Artemis III will land the first woman and the first person of color on the moon’s surface.
These missions will help NASA learn how to live and work on the Moon, so astronauts can one day travel to Mars!
Will you be on the next team?
This book shares a glimpse into future Artemis missions.
THE Artemis Missons
In greek Mythology, (the STORIES these names came from) The goddess Artemis (Goddess of the moon) is the TWIN sister of the god Apollo (god of the Sun).
THE FIVE Senses
Watch NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough talk about the five senses:
Sight, Taste, Smell, Hearing, and Touch.
Watch to learn how your five senses adapt to provide you with information necessary to keep you safe whether you’re an astronaut in space, or you have your feet planted on Earth.
Do you think your five senses would change in space?
Did you get all that?
Here is an activity that includes all of these key events and vocabulary from the show.
6. Your Part in the Play
You Have a role in This Mission:
The Brainstormers is unlike any movie, and even different from most plays. That’s because you have an active part to play in the show! Watch this video to learn how you can be a great audience member.
7. Pre-Show Activities
Classroom Activities to Prepare you for Launch
Here are the fun activities from above, all in one place, that you can do before seeing the show. They also work for after, so come back again later if you want more.
Activity #1:
"I am/we are"
Comparing & contrasting character traits
(by Alley Theatre)
Activity #2:
"STEM-onstrations: five senses"
Online activity exploring how information is received through senses
(by NASA)
Activity #3:
"Vocabulary & Gestures"
Engaging with key concepts and vocabulary from the show
(by Alley Theatre)
Share your adventure with us!
