March 2009
1 post
WatchI think this is an intriguing idea.
December 2008
1 post
AWESOME! →
November 2008
3 posts
Letters to God - FUnlimited →
If I taught in a religious school, I think having children write letters like these would be uber fun.
August 2008
6 posts
HowStuffWorks Videos "Patterns and Beauty: The... →
click link to see math music video
National Geographic News Photo Gallery: PHOTOS:... →
Great to share if you are studying space this year.
Heart Robot →
July 2008
22 posts
The Edible Schoolyard →
Have you heard of the slow food movement?
Alice Waters, the chef who started this program in California is one of the best chefs in the country. You have to call a month in advance to book a meal at her restaurant.
The Edible Schoolyard program she is a part of sounds amazing. The website even has information on how to start your own edible schoolyard along with a list of reasons to do so....
Illuminations →
For students and teachers who find beauty in numbers
Free Stuff For Teachers →
Not much else to say about this
American Visionary Art Museum →
National Gallery of Art →
Best interactive art website for children. Fun for adults too.
Nathan Sawaya: The Art of the Brick | Gallery →
Every class should have a set of legos. They are sort of like crayons that way.
PingMag: Beauty in Packaging →
Who would have thought there would be a website dedicated to this? Be sure to scroll to the bottom for more interesting packaging articles. This website would compliment a unit on economics nicely.
Where can you get these? It looks so fun, I just want to eat it.
Bravo....
Theatre is a great way to bring your students to the arts.
Denver Puppet Theatre
Beautiful puppets. The theatre is surrounded by a mystical garden and before and after the show students were allowed to try out some of the puppets. Good for primary and younger.
The Arvada Center For the Performing Arts
Their plays for children are high quality. They also offer teachers guides with their...
Fantastic Field Trips: Part 4
PAPER WORK (everyone’s favorite)
Now you know where you are going, what you are going to do there, and why you are going. Here is the nitty gritty paper work part. Start this process as soon as you know where you are going.
You will need to fill out specific forms before you leave. You may need:
*permission slips
*bus checkouts
*notification to...
ms. frizzle →
I have been looking for other teacher’s blogs that I enjoy. This one is beautiful and Ms. Frizzle’s writing is interesting. If you have links to others please feel free to share them in the comments.
HowStuffWorks "How Wetlands Work" →
Teaching about wetlands this year? Here is a tool to put in your bucket.
If you search this website for just about anything that “works” you will be in luck. Great resource for you or your students. I have found it to be very accurate, but not much for depth.
Fantastic Field Trips: Part 3
PURPOSE
Why are you taking the students out into the field?
Do you want the learners to have a deeper experience?
Did a student’s parent suggest you come?
Are you so excited about one of your passions that you must share it with your students?
Are you tired of recess duty?
Do you think that going out will solidify a concept?
These are just a few reasons that teachers arrange field...
Urban Adventure Playgrounds: The Coolest Places... →
Can you imagine?
Cai Guo-Qiang →
This artist does BIG art. Browse the projects by year. This work would be interesting to discuss with older students. It might be neat to talk about how his work has changed from year to year. Cai Guo-Qiang has done a number of explosive pieces. This website is okay but I bet it is much more interesting to see this art in person. It seems that it would be an interesting experience.
Extraodinary Art from Ordinary Objects |... →
Can you guess what this phoenix is made of?
This is a particularly interesting collection of art. WebUrbanist has many other fantastic examples of everyday art. Enjoy!
Fantastic Field Trips: Part 2
THE LOGISTICS
Scope out the trip before you take the students. Things to look for:
bathrooms
access to drinking water
if it is outside is there shelter in case of inclement weather
parking—will you have your students walk through the parking lot, or will you drop them off. If you drop them off who will stay with them
if you are going to a program—what will they offer? Does it...
June 2008
10 posts
Fantastic Field Trips: Part 1
TAKE YOUR TIME
Often times when teachers take their class on a field trip they feel like they have to see the whole museum/zoo/park/(insert your trip here). DON’T! Learners like to savor what they are seeing. Pick the parts you really want them to see and give them time to explore.
It took my first and second grade class 4 trips to the Denver Zoo to really explore all of the Rain Forest...
Etsy →
What could you and your students do with these fisher price people?
Etsy is a fabulously fun website where you can buy unique arts and crafts materials, be inspired, and sell and buy your homemade booty. One of the really cool features is that you can search items by color. Try it out for your self here.
WatchWas Ken Robinson at the Aesthetic Institute? This is why aesthetics are so important. It is well worth the 20 minutes.
I think that everyone in education should be required to watch and discuss this clip.
Giant chicken sculpture photographed in various... →
Wouldn’t it be fun to have students discuss this piece of art!
Fine Arts in Colorado
Denver Art Museum
This is the most well known art museum in Colorado. I have utilized the arts programs they have for students. The programs have been interesting and hands on. The knowledge field trip leaders is variable, but I have had more positive experiences than not.
Art District on Santa Fe
As an connoisseur of new art I enjoy going to First Fridays on Santa Fe. The first friday of...
Ammonite washbasin shaped as a fossil →
Would your students have a better learning experience with this sink in the classroom?
Fresh Field Experiences
Field trips are a fantastic and intigral way to incorportate the arts in the classroom. Here is a starter list of resources for field experiences in the arts. I will add to it as I find more.
Keep it fresh! Here are a few calendars of events in Colorado. The latter can be searched by region for those of you not teaching in Denver.
Not all of the activities are suitable for students.
Westword...
Beauty in Nature: Field Experiences
Beauty in nature. Before attempting to sculpt/paint/sing about/write poems about nature, see it in the flesh. Here are a few places to inpire.
The Denver Zoo
Roxborough State Park
The Botanic Gardens
The zoo and gardens are linked to educator pages, but don’t forget that a great field experience can be had with a sketch book and the material of choice for your students. Where better to...
“The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are...”
– Albert Einstein