Dance, Dance, Dance

This unit is about culture, geography, and dance.  Each group research a certain country and come up with a dance and a teaching unit.  It is a hard project, I have to say, however, every semester I enjoy the great outcome and success by seeing how creative my students can be!  This year, we add masks into the mix.  However, the students need to be aware of how to design and decorate their masks.  They need to properly portray and represent the essence/spirit of the culture.  Each of them show their great effort.  And, there is certainly many hidden talents in the class.  We all got a great work out that afternoon as well  

Mural Making: Remembering 9-11

Mural making is an effective way to link with social studies and history.  Based on a theme, students are able to transform learning subjects to visual presentation.  It almost always requires teamwork.  In a school setting, it is best to use pre-cut roll out paper for students to brainstorm and to create as a group.  In our example here, we divided the class into two groups: One use the whole sheet of roll out paper to construct something together in one picture; the other group, however, each member received a piece of paper (same size), each member then created his/her own interpretation on Peace, and eventually combine all eight pieces into a quilt-like mural.  
In the making of the mural, students were able to discuss as a group the meaning and  the affect of 9-11.  They talked about how peace and be restored; how life would be without wars.  Each of them shaded light on his/her feelings.  As a group, they talked about arrangements of the design elements, colors, and symbols to be put on the mural.  The whole process was heartfelt.  There was a sense of purpose within each piece.  The result was a powerful representation of how creativity helps to commemorate a historical event.