Big Picture Living: Tools to Start the Conversation around Lifestyle Wellness

This blog post was written by Katie Hurwitz, an intern at FableVision Learning. 

At FableVision Learning, we firmly believe in dreaming BIG. So does our partner, with BIG right in the name: Big Picture Learning. We are excited to announce that FableVision/The Reynolds Center and Big Picture Learning have partnered with American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) to embark on a student-driven movement: Big Picture Living. 

This program - packed with FREE Resources to start the conversation around lifestyle medicine and student projects to put the message into action.  We encourage you to read on to learn more about Lifestyle Medicine and Big Picture Living and to click here to sign up for the free resources.

Pilot Schools: We are also looking for a handful of schools/after-school programs to pilot the Big Picture Living Conversation Cards in the fall and provide feedback for future versions. If you are interested in learning more please email andrea@fablevision.com and we will get you started. 

What is Big Picture Living?

While young people in 2022 should be able to realize their true potential, there is a major setback: a crisis of higher-than-normal mental and physical health concerns. 

Our youth are experiencing:

• Increased mental health concerns 

• High death rates of COVID-19 that is disproportionately affecting families and children of color

• Rising youth isolation 

• Disengagement from school 

• Higher rates of pre-existing conditions (such as obesity and diabetes) -  especially with poor and Black and Latinx youth color

Education and health professionals have historically been siloed in their practices, so it was about time that we connected the dots in order to address blatant health inequities and the growing health crisis that affects the youth in our nation and our world. 

Big Picture Living is a movement intended to raise awareness of the day-to-day behaviors that impact our lives and how long we live it. This movement is intentionally designed to spark meaningful transformational change in young people’s lives through healthy lifestyle choices—so that they can dream big and create bravely. 

Just as FableVision Learning’s secret to success consists of the 4 Cs (plus 1)—creativity, communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and compassion—Big Picture Living harbors their own secret to success called Lifestyle Medicine. 

What is Lifestyle Medicine?

Lifestyle Medicine, as defined by ACLM, is an evidence-based approach to preventing, treating, and even reversing disease by replacing unhealthy behaviors with positive ones. Big Picture Living actively utilizes lifestyle medicine as the guide to educate and support positive behavior changes in young people by focusing on six lifestyle elements.

• Nourish (nutrition)

• Move (exercise & physical activity)

• Chill (stress management)

• Recharge (sleep health):

• Caution (avoiding risky substances)

• Social (relationships & emotional resiliency)

The medical community has made it clear that nearly 80% of chronic ailments are preventable and reversible through changes in lifestyle choices. By engaging with these 6 Measures, we can prevent diseases and ills that, through time and accumulation, can harm one’s life.

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Talking About Lifestyle Medicine With Students

Part of the Big Picture Living movement is utilizing The Big Picture Living Conversation Cards, which are designed as a way for schools/programs to introduce lifestyle medicine through discussion and activities for each of the 6 measures. Included in each measure are…

• Reflect & Consider Cards: 4 discussion prompts with information to guide the conversation. Each card includes a Quick Bite - a short extension activity inspired by the discussion.

• Activities: 4 activities to personalize the measure and activate community engagement.

The Big Picture Learning website (www.BPLiving.org) is the hub for educator resources, student work, webinars, social media challenges and so much more! 

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Ready to get started? We are looking for for a handful of schools/after-school programs to pilot the Big Picture Living Conversation Cards in the fall and provide feedback for future versions. If you are interested in learning more please email andrea@fablevision.com and we will get you started. 

Free Printable Activity: Let’s Create a Mash-Up Story!

If you find yourself with young children at home who are looking to both socially engage and exercise their creativity, this collaborative Mash-Up Story activity might be a perfect fit.

Step One: Drawing Roles + Defining the Challenge

To begin your collaborative “Mash-Up Story” activity, print out these free Paper-Slip Templates, which address the following story elements:

• Primary Characters

• Secondary Characters

• Locations

• Objects

• Feelings

You will notice that half of the slips are filled in with starter ideas, and half are left open for you to complete. Brainstorm as a group, and consider characters, places, and objects that are meaningful to you!

When all of the slips are filled in, cut them out and place them in 5 containers that are separated by subject matter. The containers can be jars, hats, bowls, or whatever you have on hand.

Then, for each participant, conduct a “drawing” that results in each person having a series of 5 story prompts. You can make this process as theatrical as you’d like. (Drumrolling is optional.) For example, “Julie” might end-up with:

• Primary Character: Talking Fish

• Secondary Character: Pinocchio

• Location: Trampoline Park

• Object: Magic Coin

• Feeling: Jealous

The other participants will each have a different series of prompts that they will be challenged to combine in a story!

Step Two: Brainstorming, Writing + Illustrating the Story

Prior to writing, each participant can brainstorm about their own plot line, central message, and even mood structures (reference: Trevor Bryan).

Image courtesy of Trevor Bryan

Depending on the age of your group, you can challenge your writers to teach a lesson, or to devise a story structure that starts with a difficult hurdle and ends with a happy resolution.

(For more information about Using Mood Structures to Support Student Writers, see the blog post by Trevor Bryan.)

Next, print out this Cover Template and Illustrated Pages Template.

With an idea in mind, participants can then dive in to their writing and illustrating. You can print out as many copies of the pages as you might need…don’t be afraid to adjust your approach partway through, or rewrite!

Adjustments, edits, and revisions are part of the fun.

Step Three: Share, Collaborate + Repeat

Once the stories have been written, they can be shared. Keep in mind that this component represents an opportunity to connect virtually with people in other locations.

This week, we have been sharing our printable activities in advance with grandparents, cousins, classmates, and friends, and then using FaceTime, Zoom or Skype to share our stories.

It allows for a dedicated time each day to reach out, to share laughter and ideas, and to hear familiar voices.

Step Four: Crossover to Other Media (Optional)

If you’re working with kids who have a favorite method of self-expression, you can encourage them to take their story to the next level!

They might:

• Make a comic book or graphic novel.

• Turn their story into a script for a play, and act it out with costumes.

• Storyboard and animate their concept, in a program like Animation-ish.

• Make a stop-motion video with Legos/figurines, or record a live-action video with family members reading different roles.

Remember, storytelling is a fun, powerful, collaborative tool. You’ll be surprised to see how differently people approach their characters and concepts!

Printable Resources:

• Paper-Slip Templates

• Cover Template

• Illustrated Pages Template.

In the coming weeks, we will continue to share resources for creativity. If you have ideas, questions, or comments, please reach out to us at info@fablevisionlearning.com.

We would love to connect the dots with you!

The Testing Camera

Peter H. Reynolds, creativity advocate and best-selling author and illustrator, and co-founder of FableVision Learning, has created a new animated short called The Testing Camera — a whimsical poke at high-stakes, standardized testing and a reminder that real assessment is as easy, and — at the same time — as challenging as getting to really know the gifts and talents of every child.

(If you don't have access to YouTube, you can also view the film on Vimeo.)

“We’ve gone through a very test-centric decade which, in my opinion, has consumed a lot of time, energy, and resources," Reynolds shares. “Many teachers have had to adhere to new mandates and measures that require a ‘teach to the test’ approach. Public schools redirected funding for art, music, theater, libraries, field trips, and more. It's a discouraging picture for those trying to reach all children in creative, engaging ways.”

Reynolds, who is known for his books encouraging creativity, The Dot, Ish, Sky Color and The North Star among many others, penned this whimsical and poignant story about a young girl named Daisy who, dismayed at her art class being canceled, nervously faces her turn with the "Testing Camera." This huge apparatus snaps at her with a few blinding flashes of light. Weeks later, her father’s reaction to the test results surprises Daisy in a most wonderful way.

“This is my gift to educators to remind them to follow their instincts and remember why they got into teaching in the first place: to see the potential in every child, to nurture those emerging gifts and talents, and to change lives,” Reynolds shared.

The film was produced by FableVision, the transmedia studio in Boston founded by Peter and his twin brother, Paul Reynolds, author of Going Places and the Sydney & Simon series. The Testing Camera was directed by John Lechner with music by Tony Lechner, and animated by a team of young animators interning at FableVision for the summer. Broadway actor Chester Gregory lends his voice to the project.

The film is being released on the web free of charge by FableVision Learning. Educators, learning communities, parents and caregivers are urged to share The Testing Camera to begin or enhance constructive conversations on how to better support authentic learning in the classroom and beyond.

A free companion poster by Peter H. Reynolds: “I AM NOT THE TEST SCORE, I AM NOT DATA, I AM NOT THE LABELS STUCK ON BY OTHERS”

Peter adds, “We need to innovate our assessments of how kids are doing, and, at the same time, to reevaluate what our priorities are. Priorities drive policy and policies drive funding. My hope is that our film will be part of the change. The testing industry ballooned to 2.5 billion in 2012, while roughly 1.2 million students a year still never get their high school diploma. And even those who do make it past the testing camera often carry the burden of a distorted image about their own potential for decades to come. From my perspective, making schools wonderful places for kids — and for teachers — will help move things forward.”

Free Create Bravely Poster By Peter H. Reynolds!

For all our FableFriends here is a new downloadable poster by Peter H. Reynolds for your classroom or home! Originally as a gift for our booth visitors at ISTE* 2014, this poster should spark the imagination of all who see it. For those of you who got a copy at ISTE we thank you for sharing your ideas with us and we hope to connect the dots with all of you again.

* International Society For Technology and Education

3 Creative Activities For Ending Your School Year

The end of the year is here! We would like to share some fun and memorable end-of-the-year activities. At the bottom of the post, please share your ideas for great ways to end the year.

Review-tionary:

The Review Game of the Quick Draw!

Reviewing what you’ve learned over an entire year can be a daunting task. Engage your entire class with this playful activity:

1. Write the names of major concepts covered on strips of paper.

2. Place the strips of paper into a hat or a bowl.

3. Have the students pick from the papers blindly..

4. Ask students to illustrate the concept without using words in their drawing. (Tip: To get the creative juices flowing, try reading one of the books from Peter H. Reynolds' Creatrilogy — The Dot, Ish and Sky Color.)

5. After drawings are finished (or time is up), the students should gather to present their work,Pictionary-style. They can act out the subject a little — but challenge them to not talk during the presentation.

6. Have the students in the audience guess what the drawing depicts.

7. Once a student guesses correctly, the class can then have a group discussion on the subject that will cover even more material.

8. After a discussion on the lesson the next student will go up and present their drawing, etc. It is an exciting way to break up a long review!

An alternative to the Pictionary game is to have the students illustrate their favorite lesson or subject from the year. Have the student write a short “artist statement” about the work. Things that could be included in the artist statement are:

• A description of the lesson or activity and what they learned.

• An explanation of the concept taught in the lesson.

• An anecdote about the activity done in class.

• A poem to accompany the piece about the subject.

• An explanation as to why they enjoyed this project in particular.

After writing the statement is presented to the class. After each presentation, other students can share their thoughts on the lesson the student chose to depict. If students pick the same lesson, it is OK because different points can be raised with each illustration depending on how the student chose to represent the activity.  The students will appreciate sharing and explaining their art and writing. This will also provide helpful insight as to which lessons are popular and particularly resonated with students. The students will also enjoy the trip down memory lane while looking though old projects.

Review the lessons taught in the past year. Do a quick summary of the topics covered in each subject. The students will pick a lesson and write a haiku about the topic or how the lesson was taught. Then present the poems with a poetry jam! Each student reads their poem to the class (snaps encouraged). This is a fun way to fit in one last lesson and a review — all in one.

SHAVING CREAM JEOPARDYCreative Cleanup and Reflective Fun!

Get your students involved in cleaning their desks at the end of the year. Usually wiping away marks can call for lots of cleaning supplies and elbow grease — but there is an easy and fun way to get your students involved in the clean up.

Shaving cream actually lifts dirt and grease from the textured surfaces of desks. Since shaving cream is also extremely manipulatable, students love to get their hands in it!

This activity is simple, First distribute dollops of shaving cream onto the desks. Make sure it is the white fluffy original kind NOT the gel. Gel creams will just leave a sticky residue and grease.

Have students rub it around, covering the entire surface of the desk. After they have their fun manipulating the cream and completely covering the desk, you can introduce the game.

The layout of this game can mimic the configuration of Jeopardy. Use topics covering the main subjects learned throughout the year (i.e. math, science, literature). Each topic will contain five questions (more can be added, it is a very flexible game). These questions will have point values ranging from 100 to 500 (or beyond). Usually 100 point questions will be recently covered topics or easy-to-remember topics, and 500 point questions will be more difficult topics, or topics from the very beginning of the year.

Much like final Jeopardy, students must answer the questions by using their fingers to write in the shaving cream on their desk. Students can either work in teams or individually. When working in teams it is best to require everyone in the group to write the answer on their desk. You don’t want to leave anyone out of the fun of writing in the cream. After answers are checked and points are distributed, the students should “erase their boards” by rubbing away the words in the cream.  Cream refills may be required, so consider this when purchasing your supplies. After the game the shaving cream can simply be wiped off with a paper towel.

Not only will you have a fresh clean set of desks, but you will have sent your students home with a better understanding of the materials covered during the year!

We would like to thank each and every educator out there for inspiring and motivating students to create bravely and make their mark this year! We hope you enjoy your summer and continue to innovate in life, as well as the classroom.

Gallery and paintbox illustrations from THE DOT, copyright 2003 Peter H. Reynolds (Candlewick Press)

Above and Beyond: The Story of the 4C's

  FableVision in collaboration with Partnership for 21st Century Skills has produced a short, animated film called Above & Beyond. Help your students go "above & beyond", by embracing the 4Cs - communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity.  Enjoy & share this video and poster!

above_and_beyond_poster

Download the 4C's Poster

The Mark Maker Movement!

New poster by Peter H. Reynolds: Join the Mark Maker Movement!

Maker Movement

Maker Movement

We are Making a FAB Future Together

Here's a copy of the "Fab" poster the FableVision team gave out at the recent USA Science and Engineering Festival in D.C.  We love the message and hope you do to!

Make a FAB Future Together

Make a FAB Future Together

Celebrate School Library Month With These Two New Posters by Peter H. Reynolds!

Here are two posters Peter created for the American Association of School Librarians. Enjoy!

Your Library is Where It's at

Lives Change at Your Library

March is Creativity Month!

March is here! We are happy to re-release one of our popular classroom posters: March is Creativity Month. You'll find great tips for celebrating creativity month. Our lead ambassador (and dear educator friend) Terry Shay wrote the tips, while Peter H. Reynolds provided the illustrations. Keep in mind — you can take these tips and apply them to celebrate creativity in ANY month!

March (2014) is creativity month!

Download this poster.

New Poster from Peter H. Reynolds — Let's Share This Wonderful Message All Year Long

We encourage you to print this beautiful new poster by Peter H. Reynolds and hang it on your wall to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. and his powerful message all year long. Wishing you all an amazing Martin Luther King Day!

New Peter H. Reynolds Poster! Creativity, Courage, Collaboration

As a special thanks to all the amazing educators who joined us in celebrating International Dot Day this year — and to ALL the creative, courageous, and collaborative educators moving the world to a better place — Peter H. Reynolds, the Reynolds Center for Teaching Learning, and Creativity, and FableVision Learning are happy to offer this new downloadable poster.

Enjoy! Please let us know how you inspire students to develop these essential 21st Century skills in your classroom.