Syllabus
“The child is father of the man”
William Wordsworth
All children are singing and dancing. As we grow up this natural ability becomes suppressed and often lost. This class will reach out to our inner child. 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.
Program 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, will produce shows and community events, and will work with children in schools.
Program Objectives:
To reawaken the respect and reverence for the child.
To understand stages of child development and child's relationship to the world.
To reawaken skills in observation, imagination, and intuition. To work with awe, mystery, and participation.
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 new technology.
To share our care, knowledge, and talent with children in Olympia.
To practice 5 Foci of Evergreen pedagogy:
Interdisciplinary Study
Collaborative Learning
Learning Across Significant Differences
Personal Engagement
Linking Theory with Practical Applications
Program Requirements:
Students will synthesize their experiences in the Class Journal.
Students will volunteer and work with children in preschools and elementary schools for a total of 15 hours.
During the quarter there will be a number of specific projects and writing assignments including responses to reading, autobiographical narratives, and a portrait of a child.
Students will research a project of their interest in Media, Puppet Theater or Expressive Arts and will be able to gain up to 2 credits in primary endorsement requirements.
Required Texts: Natural Child
Awakening the Child Heart, by Carla Hannaford
The Recovery of Men in Childhood, by A. C. Harwood
The Connected Family, by S. Papert
There will be also reading from a number of articles and web sites throughout the quarter.
The Arts and the Child program is centered on building a learning community. The success of the program depends on your interest and desire to work actively with other students in the class and with children in the community.
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 are missing a class, please leave a message for me at the #6736 and check with a friend to know what we did in class and what is due.
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, please leave a message at 867- 6736 or email diamanth@evergreen.edu
The art materials fee of $15.00 is a part of your tuition for the program.
“The living word awakened my soul,
Gave it light, hope, joy, set it free.”
Helen Keller
