http://salmonberryschool.org Educating children through their Hearts and Hands since 2001 Thu, 25 Feb 2010 05:39:25 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The Salmonberry Garden students have been enjoying the new set of pattern blocks in the classroom.  The children have created vertical towers, flat designs and designs on paper which they trace and then add pencil details for a pattern block drawing.   Here are a few photos of them deeply engaged in ... http://salmonberryschool.org/the-new-pattern-blocks-are-a-hit [caption id="attachment_354" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="The Dragon dances through the Salmonberry Garden classroom"][/caption] From Linda’s desk… “In anticipation of the Chinese New Year the Salmonberry Garden class had fun charting the Chinese Zodiac animals for the children and their families.  (It's the only time you can call someone a pig or a rat ... http://salmonberryschool.org/the-salmonberry-garden-class-celebrates-chinese-new-year [caption id="attachment_331" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="Students admire the aliens on display."][/caption] The children at Salmonberry Garden created space aliens last month from recycled materials.   They used milk cartons, yogurt containers, spice bottles, salt containers, berry boxes, dental floss containers and wires from old calendars.  They held these things together with ... http://salmonberryschool.org/friendly-space-aliens-make-the-journey-from-salmonberry-to-the-library KUNOMOKST by Salmonberry School’s Elementary Students [caption id="attachment_286" align="alignleft" width="300" caption=" "][/caption] Salmonberry Elementary students in grades 1-4, recently completed designing and sewing this original “Button Blanket,” entitled “Kunomokst” inspired by the traditional ceremonial blankets of the First Peoples of the Northwest Coast.  The colors, and certain  forms are based on traditional ... http://salmonberryschool.org/button-blanket-kunamokst Salmonberry Elementary students took advantage of an opportunity to view the collection of contemporary art at the Seattle Art Museum with a special focus on the temporary exhibit Alexander Calder: A Balancing Act. The class spent time with their art teacher, Andrea Cohen preparing for the visit.  They did some projects ... http://salmonberryschool.org/seattle-art-museum No, I’m not going anywhere.  But I have been recently asked to serve as a “Contributing Editor” for the journal Encounter: Education for Meaning and Social Justice. [caption id="attachment_272" align="alignright" width="225" caption="Salmonberry School's Program Director, Paul Freedman"][/caption] This magazine was founded in the 1980’s as the Holistic Education Review and was retitled ... http://salmonberryschool.org/freedman-embraces-new-challenge On Thursday, November 19, Two Samish elders, Rosie Cayou and Bill James spent the day with the 1st through 4th grade children at Salmonberry Elementary School.  They taught lessons about Samish cultural traditions, songs, stories, rituals, language, clothing, and much more.  With great sensitivity to the children’s young age, they ... http://salmonberryschool.org/samish-elders-visit-salmonberry-school Food Bank or Bust! On Monday, November 16, Salmonberry School students age 3-10, participated in a unique sort of Wagon Train.  The students pushed and pulled a procession of large wagons through the driving rain, to deliver hundreds of donated food items to the Orcas Food Bank.  Once there, after ... http://salmonberryschool.org/wagons-ho This is a bit of a longer posting, which I hope you will take the time to read.  - Paul As a teacher looking to create meaningful learning experiences for my students, I am a constant observer.  My goal through careful observation is to try to understand and experience the cognitive, ... http://salmonberryschool.org/to-walk-a-mile-in-their-shoes [caption id="attachment_215" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Corn husk dolls"][/caption] Salmonberry's annual Fall Festival went on despite the stormy conditions.  Great fun was had by all.  Kids made traditional corn husk dolls with elementary teacher, Paul Freedman.  There was beeswax candle dipping, which took a lot of patience to create beautiful organic-looking tapered candles. [caption ... http://salmonberryschool.org/fall-festival