All children are singing and dancing. As we grow up this natural ability becomes suppressed and often lost. This class will reach out to the inner child of the students. It will allow the students to form a connection to their inner child and to children in need of care and education in the community.

Course Description:
The students will connect with memories of their own childhood, practice expressive arts and understand the importance of art, stories, and drama in the development and education of the child. The students will learn how to make and work with puppets and masks, will produce a show, and will work with children in schools.
 
 
 
 

Course Objectives: To reawaken the senses of awe, mystery, and participation. To understand stages of child development and child’s relationship to the world. To reawaken skills in observation, imagination, and intuition. To develop a deeper relationship to landscape, to local place and the universe, to the world of plants, to geometry, natural sciences, and ourselves. To explore the mediums of drawing, painting, performing arts, and video. To share our care, knowledge, and talent with children in Olympia and with students in China. Course Objectives: To reawaken the senses of awe, mystery, and participation. To understand stages of child development and child’s relationship to the world. To reawaken skills in observation, imagination, and intuition. To develop a deeper relationship to landscape, to local place and the universe, to the world of plants, to geometry, natural sciences, and ourselves. To explore the mediums of drawing, painting, performing arts, and video. To share our care, knowledge, and talent with children in Olympia and with students in China.  Course Requirements: Students will synthesize their experiences in the Class Journal. Students will volunteer and work with children in preschools and elementary schools. Each quarter there will be a number of specific writing assignments including responses to reading, autobiographical narratives, and portraits of children. Students will research a subject of their interest. We will have presentations of our research in class, in TESC and will bring it to China. Required Text for the Spring Quarter is You Are Your Child’s First Teacher by Rahima Baldwin. There will be also a number of articles and web sites throughout the quarter.

 
 

Some Dates to Remember:

April 10 – Passover potluck at the farmhouse.
                 Read story of Joseph and Moses, Genesis chp. 37 – 49. Exodus ch. 1- 21.

April 12, 17, 19 - Workshops in the Procession Art Studio (the old Madison Elementary, 812 S. Central)

April 19 – 20 – Medieval Fair, Marshall Middle School.

April 21 - Procession of Species Celebration.
                Group A – response to Ch. 1- 4 "You Are ….."
                Group B – China Class Journal

April 24 – Easter Batik Egg Painting Workshop.

May 3 – Read a biography of Genghis Khan

May 5 – Premier of Genghis Khan in the OFS Capitol Theater

May 10 - Response to Ch. 7-11 "You Are ….."
                Define your Research/Presentation Project

May 21- June 1 - No classes at TESC.
                             Group A – Visits and observations in schools.

June 5 -  Presentations of Research Projects.
               Group B – China; Educational Experience paper due
               Group B – Educational Experience paper due

June 7 - Class Journal, Portrait of the Child, Self Evaluation, and Faculty Evaluation are due.

June 12 – Evaluation Conferences
 
 
 

Winter Quarter 2001
Folk and Fairy Tales

In the winter quarter we will focus on the early school years, up to 3rd grade. We will make and work with puppets and learn how to tell stories. Students will research in the areas of their interest and work in classrooms in schools. In preparation for the China trip we will create Books of Songs, Books of Nursery Rhymes, and other educational materials.
 
 

The students that traveled to China will have a 2 weeks period to process their experiences and prepare presentations. During that time the students that remained in Olympia will work independently; they will study and work with home-schoolers and with other educational initiatives and institutions.

Some of the themes in the Spring Quarter will include:

• Celebrations
• Nature Study
• Child Development and Curriculum
• Independent Research and New Media in Education

The most important aspect of the course for me, and my greatest aspiration is to create a safe and inspiring environment for you to question, to engage your imagination, to express your talent, and courage. I hope that in this course you will have an opportunity to do your best work.

Attendance and participation in all the classes is essential for a full credit. More then two missed classes will result in a reduced credit. All missed classes must be made up. If you miss a class leave a message for me at the #6736 and check with a friend where we are going to be and what we are doing.

Working in the class individually and as a group we will honor the atmosphere of trust, honesty, safety, and respect for each other, and for the children we are working with.

All course requirements and assignments will be explained in detail in class. If you need to reach me in an emergency, my home phone # 943-6518, otherwise leave a message on my extension 866-6000 # 6736 or email hjdiamanth8@ home.com

The art materials fee will be payable to the instructor.