Upper Elementary students (ages 8-11) engaged in creating stage flats for a reader’s theater performance, beginning with the construction of small-scale prototypes. They received instructions on the dimensions and quantities of wood required, which they cut using a miter saw(video above). Following this, they learned the technique of stretching canvas over these frames and utilized a projector to trace images onto the flats(middle row, left & middle). To design their backdrops, the students leveraged ChatGPT, drawing inspiration from key themes in their plays to craft scenes that encapsulated the essence of their stories. Some groups tested their ideas by painting these prototypes. Eventually, all students constructed full-size flats and painted them, preparing these backdrops for use in their final stage productions.