Interpret like a Looney…Tune that is.
Happy New Year, folks!
If one of your resolutions is to reach more people and you see lots of school and family groups, interpreting ‘like a Looney’ might be your answer! Growing up, I loved Bugs tricking Elmer, Tweety evading Sylvester, and Wile E. Coyote’s wild plans. As a kid, it was just fun. Later, I realized Looney Tunes also exposed me to art, music, relationships, and ingenuity—because they were made for adults, too.
We can plan school group experiences like Looney Tunes: curriculum tie-ins for kids plus a little something for teachers and chaperones. Here’s how:
Choose layered language. Keep it simple for kids but add metaphors that intrigue adults.
Explain facts multiple ways. Compare a volcano to an overblown balloon, an Instant Pot, and a shaken champagne bottle—quick and relatable for different age groups.
Encourage shared stories. Ask both kids and adults to share favorite road trip memories before diving into a migration story. Then weave their responses into your program.
Speak to the kid in everyone while engaging the grown-ups they become.
So how about this for a New Year’s resolution? Revisit your kid-friendly programs and sprinkle in interpretive “Easter eggs” for adults. They’re the ones who bring kids back, rave about you, volunteer, and support your work.