Teaching Students About Beth Howland
Teaching students about Beth Howland can be an exciting and inspirational journey. As an accomplished actress, her dedication to the performing arts and her advocacy for animal rights can offer valuable lessons to young individuals. In this article, we will discuss various aspects of Howland’s life, her work, and how to incorporate this knowledge into your educational curriculum.
Captivating Career:
1. Early beginnings: Start with Beth Howland’s early life, highlighting her birth in Boston on May 28, 1941. Discuss her interest in theater and her passion for dance, mentioning her enrollment at a prestigious dance studio at the age of 16.
2. Acting breakthrough: Describe her acting career breakthrough with a small part in the Broadway musical “Bye Bye Birdie” in 1960. Use this to emphasize the importance of perseverance and dedication as an aspiring performer.
3. Peak of her career: Elaborate on Howland’s most famous role as Vera Louise Gorman in the television show “Alice,” which ran from 1976 to 1985. Explain how she was nominated for a Golden Globe award for Best Supporting Actress during this time.
4. Post-Alice career: Discuss her continued acting in various television shows, movies, and theater productions after “Alice” ended. Enumerate some of her other on-screen roles while communicating that hard work and talent keep an artist relevant.
Why Teach Students about Beth Howland:
1. Aspirations in the arts: Teaching students about Beth Howland illustrates that one can pursue and achieve success in a creative field with dedication and resilience, inspiring them to follow their passions.
2. Importance of charity work: Besides acting, Howland devoted much of her time to charitable organizations such as Actors and Others for Animals—an example of using one’s platform to make a difference.
3. Role model: She was a strong, independent, and multi-talented woman who showed her resilience in the face of adversity, making her a great role model for students.
Incorporating Beth Howland into the Classroom:
1. Include her story in history and arts curriculum: Teach students about her career as an actress, specifically her role in “Alice,” and how she contributed to American television history.
2. Studying her characters: Analyze the character of Vera Louise Gorman from “Alice” in theater classes, focusing on Howland’s portrayal and character development throughout the show.
3. Guest speakers and workshops: Invite experts or local theater performers to teach acting workshops or speak on their experiences working in the entertainment industry, using Howland as an example of success in a challenging field.
4. Inspiring discussions around advocacy work: Teach students about Actors and Others for Animals and the impact it has had on animal welfare. Incorporate activities like researching other celebrity advocates and discussing roles celebrities can play in social issues.
Conclusion:
Beth Howland’s life story offers many lessons for students today—from building a successful career to dedicating oneself to important causes. By teaching students about her achievements and incorporating Howland into your curriculum, you can inspire the next generation to follow their passions and strive for success even when faced with obstacles or setbacks.