Sandstrom Table 6

shea bower table 4

5th Shea-Bower's Claymation

Ms. Jessica returns from Japan-U.S. Teacher Exchange Program for Education for Sustainable Development joint-conference in San Francisco

I will visit Japan this summer as a participant in the Japan-U.S. Teacher Exchange Program for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), hosted by the Japan-U.S. Educational Commission (Fulbright Japan). It is an  honor to be one of 14 teachers in the US selected for this opportunity. The bi-nationally-funded program for U.S. teachers takes place in two parts: a Joint Conference, which I just attended last week with Japanese teachers in San Francisco, and a study tour to Japan, June 22-July 7, 2015. Focused on the theme of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), the program aims to deepen mutual understanding and strengthen the relationship between Japan and the United States, as well as to raise awareness of ESD-oriented school programs and enhance ESD-related curricula in both countries. ESD is “a vision of education that seeks to balance human and economic well-being with cultural traditions and respect for the earth’s natural resources,” according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Starting April 26, a contingent of 14 Japanese primary and secondary school teacher participants travelled to the United States for a fully-funded two-week study tour of American culture and ESD programs in U.S. schools. Following an orientation program, the teachers spent a week visiting schools and ESD resource sites in Washington, DC and participated in home stays with American families.  

The Joint Conference included presentations by U.S. experts in Education for Sustainable Development as well as workshops and group discussions focused on ESD curriculum development. BVSD is very progressive when it comes to ESD, I gave a presentation during the conference sharing our ESD activities with my collegues. We shared our ESD curricula and collaborated with each other to strengthen school activities in four vital areas of ESD focus: food and sustainable nutrition; environment; energy and resources; and international understanding and cooperation.

In June 2015, I will travel in a reciprocal and fully-funded two-week study tour to Japan, where I will learn about Japanese culture, visit Japanese schools focused on ESD, participate in a home stay, and meet again with their Japanese counterparts for a three-day Joint Conference, including workshops and curricular collaboration, in Tokyo. Upon their return to the United States, I will engage in collaborative projects with program counterparts in Japan and the U.S., share what I have learned through the program, and implement refined ESD curricula in my home school.

The Japan-U.S. Teacher Exchange Program for ESD is administered by the Japan–U.S. Educational Commission (Fulbright Japan), with support in the U.S. from the Institute of International Education in San Francisco. It is jointly funded by the Embassy of the United States in Japan, and the Japanese Government’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT).

3rd Grade Map Making Project

Students  created their own fictional historical maps.  They came up with a type of map they wanted to create (for example: explorer, treasure, fairy tale, medieval, etc.). They learned about landforms, longitude, latitude, and compass roses to create their maps.  We looked at ancient maps to gain inspiration. Here are some of their creations.

4th grade finishes monochromatic Picasso style portraits

5th grade claymation project videos. Stay tuned for more to be added.

This interdisciplinary project was funded through Impact on Education's Classroom Innovation Grant Program. 

Some of the 5th grade claymation videos. Stay tuned for more as they complete them.

2nd grade creates the GREAT WALL of China!

2nd grade is learning about China.  During art class we talked about the Great Wall and how it was built in sections over many centuries to keep out the nomadic tribes of the north (later known as the Mongols).  I talked a bit about Mongolia and my experience working and traveling in the country as a Peace Corps Volunteer.  Students are working in small groups to create a section of the Great Wall. Later we will attach each child's wall to create a large and very long "classroom" Great Wall. Here are some finished works from Ms. Isaacson's class.

5th grade starts claymation!

We received a grant from Impact on Education to do a 5th grade claymation project.  The grant money was used to purchase more iPads, clay, and a stop motion app so students can work in small collaborative groups to create claymation movies. They began with a storyboard and then created a backdrop set and characters. Some groups have started to film. Here are some images of work in progress.

Kindergarten Symmetrical House Paintings

Kindergarten is studying Africa in the regular classroom.  During art we read the book My Painted House, My Friendly Chicken, and Me, by Maya Angelou.  It is  photographic book about a young girl from South Africa and the life and customs of the Ndebele people.

For this project student designed their house using a symmetrical design.  They used various  shapes and lines and color to complete their artwork.

Cave Drawings

First grade is working on a project in which they studied the paleolithic cave paintings from Lascaux in France. We went on a  virutal tour of Lascaux.The caves were found by accident in 1940.  Paleolithic artists mainly drew pictures of animals they hunted. These pictures were engraved on to pieces of bone or antler, or painted and carved on cave walls and rock faces.   Students tried to replicate ancient rock paintings by tearing the edges of the paper and crumpling the paper. They used oil pastel to color their drawings.

Picasso has the Blues (or greens, reds, violets...)

4th grade is learning about Pablo Picasso and his various styles of painting and artwork.  We focused in on his blue period and cubism.  We discussed how color represent a feeling or mood. Today students learned how to create different values of one color using tint and shade. They will choose one color to create a monochromatic cubist style portrait. Here are some photos of in progress work: