Peter H. Reynolds Inspires Young Writers at Nourse Elementary School

Julie Durmis, the Library Media Specialist at L.G. Nourse Elementary School might be Peter H. Reynolds’s number one fan. Having connected the dots with FableVision Learning in the spring of 2020, she had one goal - to bring the joy of Peter to the students in Norton, Ma. This school year her dream was realized. 

Third-grade students explored storybook writing and character development through The Peter H. Reynolds Storybook Academy. As a special treat, FableVision Learning’s Andrea Calvin, a former newspaper journalist, hosted a One Minute Book workshop with the students. This set the stage for the special guests - Paul and Peter H. Reynolds. 

On a sunny April morning, the Nourse School welcomed Peter H. and Paul Reynolds in song … The Dot Song, by Emily Arrow. The day was filled with stories, drawings, and laughter. Paul and Peter had a special lunch with bookmark contest winners and ended their visit by meeting with each third grade class. 

Rounding out the day, Andrea Calvin hosted Nourse educators for a Creativity PD with tips on how to use Divergent Thinking in the elementary classroom. 

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If you are interested in learning more about custom programs, family nights, and author visits email the team at info@fablevisionlearning.com

Peter H. Reynolds Joins Creativity Celebration with Norwood Extended Day

Creativity overflowed from the Savage Center Gym on Friday, June 16, as Norwood parents, kids, and Extended Day staff joined the celebration with Peter H. Reynolds and the FableVision Learning team.

Soaking in the artwork and animations, Peter H. Reynolds toured each station that highlighted student projects done around his beloved picture books.

Starting with a PD session in February, FableVision Learning worked with Norwood Extended Day to develop a custom program to activate the works of New York Times Best-Selling author and illustrator Peter H. Reynolds through SEL/STEM projects. During the after-school program, K-5 students across the six elementary schools (Balch, Callahan, Cleveland, Oldham, Prescott, and Willett), engaged with creative tools, including Animation-ish (a leveled animation program) and FabMaker Studio (a 3-D design and engineering tool) as they practiced the skills of communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity.

The audience at the Friday night celebration were treated to an interactive reading of The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds. Riordan, a young girl from the audience, enthusiastically played the role of Vashti as Peter read along. Following the presentation, families lined up to meet Peter and have their books signed.

This entire night was made possible because of the vision of Debbie Holzendorf, director of the Norwood Public Schools Extended Day Services and Nevine Gadalla, assistant to the director. 

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If you are interested in learning more about custom programs, family nights, and author visits email the team at info@fablevisionlearning.com

FableVision Learning Launches After-School SEL/STEM Program with Norwood Public Schools

It may have started as a simple purchase of The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds and a stop to his bookstore The Blue Bunny in Dedham square, but Debbie Holzendorf, director of the Norwood Public Schools Extended Day Services, saw something more. 

A few phone calls and meetings later, FableVision Learning officially launched the after-school program with an educator PD on Saturday, Feb. 4. During this hands-on session, 40-ish teachers explored this unique after-school program that has been designed for K-5 students across Norwood’s six elementary schools: Balch, Callahan, Cleveland, Oldham, Prescott, and Willett (Kindergarten), Middle School and The Savage Center for school vacation programming. 

This custom program activates the works of New York Times Best-Selling author and illustrator Peter H. Reynolds through SEL/STEM projects. Through this program, students will engage with creative tools, including Animation-ish (a leveled animation program) and FabMaker Studio (a 3-D design and engineering tool) as they practice the skills of communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity. 

As a culminating event for this school year, Norwood Public Schools Extended Day Services will host a creativity celebration with Peter H. Reynolds. During this time students and families will meet the author and be able to share projects from the after-school program.

FableVision Learning partners with school districts across the country to develop custom programs. If you have any questions send us an email at info@fablevisionlearning.com.

New Hampshire's SAU 6 Celebrates Dot Week With FableVision Learning

I  Am Brave!

This special message was celebrated by every student in Claremont/Unity New Hampshire during the FableVision Learning week of creativity that launched with the Creatrilogy Family Night and continued during the week with a coding activity at each elementary school. 

To activate the district’s goal of student growth, the team at FableVision Learning helped SAU #6 kick-off the year with energy and joy through a hands-on student activity to remind them that they are brave and they can do hard things. By creating and deciphering binary code necklaces, students carried the important message of bravery with them around their necks.

The most exciting part of the week, though, was The Creatrilogy Family Night. All of the families in the district were invited to come to the high school for a Stories that Matter, Stories that Move animated film festival followed by activities all related to Peter H. Reynolds’s Creatrilogy of books The Dot, Ish, and Sky Color. Families worked on collaborative art, searched for hidden dots, and stretched their minds with brain teasers and challenges.

There is a lot more in store for SAU#6 Claremont/Unity this year. We are so happy to be part of their year of growth. If you’d like to bring exciting programs like this one to your school or district, contact us at info@fablevisionlearning.com.

Pennsylvania Fourth Graders “Go Places” with “Start with a Story” STEM Activities

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

When it comes to teaching STEM literacy as educators, where do we start? Perhaps, it can be as simple as starting with a story. FableVision Learning’s “Start with a Story” program introduces students to the books of New York Times best-selling author/illustrator Peter H. Reynolds, posing a set of activities that correspond to each story.

 Zooming into the Mifflin County Public School District in central Pennsylvania, fourth grade students embarked on a “Start with a Story” journey with Bailey Kibe at the helm. 

 Kibe is a fourth grade teacher who teaches Reading, Science, and Social Studies. She works as a team with another teacher—who teaches Math and Writing—as they both teach their respective homeroom classes of 25 and 21 students.

“For the past few years I have collaborated with the Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11, specifically their Educational Technology department. Dr. Eric Yoder, Coordinator of Educational Technology, proposed the project of FabMaker Studio to me to pilot with my students,” Kibe said. “Since then, I have worked closely with Andrea Calvin from FableVision Learning to implement their ‘Start with a Story’ STEM Literacy unit.”

The specific book that Kibe used was Going Places by Peter H. and Paul A. Reynolds. In this story, the main character, Maya, inspires her friends to think outside the box even when a kit of instructions is provided. Encouraging her friend Rafael to realize all the possibilities that can be achieved through innovative thinking, Maya helps readers alike develop self-efficacy to transform ideas from their imagination into reality. 

The “Start with a Story” activities for Going Places relate to the book’s themes of challenging the status-quo through connectivity and encouragement.

We recently connected with Kibe to discuss her experience of “starting with a story” to teach STEM literacy to her Mifflin County Public School District fourth graders. The following is our Q&A with Kibe. Read on to see how the story and its activities led her students to really “go places!”

You've been using the “Start with a Story: Going Places” activities. What has been the overall response from the students? 

Kibe: Students have loved the activities! It has been a great experience overall. With each activity there is a problem-solving component that allows students to really collaborate and share perspectives to achieve their goal. Students also were able to work with peers that they may not typically work with, which allowed for team-building. The students especially enjoyed testing their “tables” to see if they held a book or even several books. Also, they loved turning the go-cart building activity into a friendly competition to see which cart went the fastest and the farthest.

What has been one aha moment?

Kibe: There have been several aha moments throughout the activities. The go-cart activity stands out the most. When we were building the carts, we first started with bottle cap wheels. The students experimented with the idea of friction and decided that the bottle caps created too much that it affected the performance of their carts. They then created wheels using the circle paper in the FabMaker document that was cut out using the Silhouette. After testing, the students had an aha moment that the paper wheels produced less friction and therefore increased the effectiveness of their creation.

Do you have any tips for teachers getting started?

Kibe: The key to success with STEM is collaboration. We want the students to collaborate effectively, and the same should be said for educators. This was a learning experience for all involved, and it was helpful to have extra teachers and staff supporting the project. So, don’t be afraid to invite others to join in on the activity!

What's next?

Kibe: My students will now start their projects using Animation-ish. I will also continue the “Start with a Story” unit next year with my next group of 4th graders. We will continue working through STEM-based and project-based activities in our classroom so the students can discover and explore all of the different components of the discipline.

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Want to learn more about Start with a Story? Email the team at info@fablevisionlearning.com

When School's Out the Story is On: FableVision Learning and YMCA Partner on SEL/STEM Program

The following blog post was written by Tyler Stott, an intern at FableVision Learning.

Solving rubix cubes, creating animations, and building “Say Something” megaphones doesn’t sound like your typical after school program - but the MetroWest YMCA’s School’s Out program isn’t your average program. Thanks to a partnership between MetroWest YMCA and FableVision Learning, Massachusetts students have been using their creative smarts and STEM skills as they explore the literary world of Peter H. Reynolds. 

“We are so excited to have the opportunity to partner with our friends at FableVision. Each month we focus on a specific book from Peter H. Reynolds’ collection. Our sites use the curriculum from Start With A Story for each book and deep dive into the many hands-on activities provided, “ said Hannah Glenshaw, the Director of Educational Program Enhancements at the MetroWest YMCA.  “Students are eager to get into the program during FableVision days because they love the activities and get excited to share their hard work,”.

The Start with a Story after-school program is the next phase in the partnership between FableVision and MetroWest YMCA, which started with the North Star Summer program in 2021. With funding from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Afterschool and Out-of-School Time Quality Enhancements (ASOST-Q) Grant Program, which is administered through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and an additional STEM grant from the Dassault Systems U.S. Foundation the teams continue to develop STEM, SEL, and creativity curriculum for students served by the MetroWest YMCA.  

FableVision Learning’s Start with A Story program ties the works of New York Times best-selling author/illustrator Peter H. Reynolds to hands-on and technology-based activities/projects. Each unit focuses on one book and includes an Animation-ish activity and a FabMaker Studio STEM project. 

We recently connected with Glenshaw to learn more about the partnership and YMCA program. Read on to learn more. 

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Can you share a bit about your program and the students you work with?

Glenshaw: “At the MetroWest YMCA, we run six School's Out sites servicing the areas of Ashland, Framingham, Hopkinton, and Natick. School's Out is a place where children can participate in a wide range of activities while building friendships that last a lifetime. Our programs extend school-day learning with a wide variety of engaging opportunities for active play, participation in STEM learning, and building life skills through social-emotional curricula, all under the supervision of experienced staff.”

What have been a few of your favorite learning moments with the students? Favorite book or project?

Glenshaw: “My favorite learning moment from the Start With A Story program has been the conversations inspired by my favorite book, Say Something! The book has inspired our students to speak out who tend to step back in most group conversations. I've witnessed students express themselves through writing, art, and fabricated megaphones used to physically shout out their words. This book has cultivated some of the most thoughtful discussions around self-confidence, helping others, and using one’s voice to make a difference. The YMCA students have reminded me that my voice matters and I should share it out loud.” 

How have you used FabMaker Studio with the program? What are some of the Aha moments working with the program?

 Glenshaw: “We have been using the FabMaker Studio program in conjunction with each book's curriculum. Before we fabricate a project, we talk about the different shapes that go into each 2D or 3D design. Students then sketch design ideas on a piece of paper before we see how the pre-made projects are created. The “Aha” moments come when students can physically hold their project. Watching them fold the perforated edges, think through where the shape needs to bend, and finally glue and assemble the remaining pieces is a lightbulb moment! You can feel the energy in the room when they have pieced together the design. I love watching students collaborate and support one another in the design process.”

“A project inspired by the book Say Something, challenges students to create a megaphone. Ruth, age 10, from our Framingham School’s Out site was folding her megaphone when she was inspired to layer 3D pop-ups onto her design. Ruth was determined to share her message with swirls, jagged edges, and springs popping out from all sides of her megaphone. It was a brilliant moment where her artistry and spunky personality meshed into a beautiful project.”

Can you share a bit about the animation process with Animation-ish? What are some projects students have completed? 

Glenshaw: “The animation process has been a wonderful component of the Start with a Story curriculum. Each week students use laptops at the site to design and animate a prompt inspired by a book. A staff member reads a story and asks leading questions to inspire students on their animation journey. A few fan favorites include animating their name, animating an emotion, and animating a form of transportation.”

“Edmund, age 7, from the Elmwood School’s Out site in Hopkinton, decided to animate a rock rolling along the grass as his interpretation of movement. He was so excited about his animation when he was picked up from the program, he ran outside to show his parents. DJ, age 8, also from the Elmwood Schools Out site, animated a skateboarder flying across the screen and landing the jump for his project on transportation.” 

What are you excited for next?

Glenshaw: “I am excited to read Our Table and Be You! from the Start With A Story collection. One of the activities inspired by the story Be You! is to animate a self-portrait that captures your unique personality. I can’t wait to watch students think through the design process. Which colors will they choose? Will their person start with one expression, and change to another, or if they will show themselves in an action or doing their favorite hobby? The possibilities are endless!” 

How can students get involved with your programs?

Glenshaw: “Families can get involved with our out-of-school time programs through the website. Click here to access the website and register for the 2022-2023 school year! If families are interested in experiencing more hands-on learning opportunities for their kids, then come spend your summer at the Y. At Camp OCP, students will be able to experience more activities inspired by Peter H. Reynolds collection. The camp features summer learning through hands-on enrichment activities in STEM, Global Learning, and Social-Emotional Learning. Traditional camp activities like swimming/water play, sports, arts and crafts, and gaga-ball are included.”

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Want to learn more about Start with a Story? Email the team at info@fablevisionlearning.com

Shamrock Springs Elementary is GOING PLACES

The following blog post was written by Tyler Stott, an intern at FableVision Learning.

What started as a “crazy idea” to immerse students in the pages of a book, evolved into an interactive experience for the entire Shamrock Springs Elementary community. 

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Instructional Coach Jodi Dubovich (left) and Media Specialist Lori Tebbe (right)

Planning for the annual Shamrock Reads celebration, Lori Tebbe, the media specialist at the school in Westfield, Indiana and Jodi Dubovich, an instructional coach, selected a book that truly encompassed the 4Cs. 

“We chose ‘Going Places’ by Peter and Paul Reynolds (this year) because this book promotes critical thinking, communication skills, collaboration, and creativity,” Lori explained. Then, using a bit of creativity and communication - the two connected the dots with FableVision to get permission to use the pages from the book and everything changed from that moment. 

“The biggest aha moment for us was realizing that big things are possible and that came true when within a day we got a response from Jane Reynolds,” Lori and Jodi shared. “We had this crazy idea to immerse the students in this book walk but never thought we would hear back from FableVision let alone get permission to use their book in this way. Our aha moment was realizing that there are people out there who want to support teachers and students in big ways… The world is more connected than we ever imagined.” 

The Shamrock Reads program included a storywalk, skits featuring Maya and Raphael, a community night, and a video message from Peter H, Reynolds.

“Paul and I were so excited when we heard that Shamrock Springs Elementary was not just reading our book, the whole school, but activating the book, bringing it to life in such creative ways. The message in this book is all about thinking outside of the box and collaborating with each other to solve problems and make this world a better place,” Peter shared in his video message. 

We connected with Lori and Joidi to learn more about the reading program and their school.

Can you share a bit about your school, how are you so fortunate to work in such a creative space?

“We are fortunate to live in a community where education is highly valued and supported by the community and parents. When teachers have ideas and ways to enrich the learning experience for their students; administration, PTOs and other community sponsors always step up and offer support whether it is financial or materials for whatever we need. Shamrock Reads is a yearly program but due to Covid protocols we had to scale it back significantly. With restrictions easing up, we wanted to generate an excitement around reading and an event that would bring the whole school together. We went to the PTO and they agreed to fund our idea to make Shamrock Reads bigger and better this year. “

Can you share a bit about the skit you wrote and how the characters interacted with the characters in other books?

“Our kickoff for this year’s Shamrock Reads was an all school assembly. ‘Going Places’ was used as our theme this year to promote the 4Cs. During the skit, the main characters, Maya and Raphael, traveled around the gym and met characters from favorite picture books. The skit started off with them wanting to use their imagination and creativity on a day where they found there wasn’t much to do. They met characters that needed encouragement, a boost of confidence, problem solving and just some fun and wacky characters as well. At the end of the skit, the audience realizes they really didn’t go to all these places and meet all these characters, they had spent the day reading together and they were able to go to all these places by reading and using their vivid imaginations.”

Are you a Maya or a Raphael?

“We both have traits of each of these characters. We are very much like Maya in the beginning. We like to dream big and think of all these crazy possibilities for our students. The bigger the better. However, when a decision needs to be made, we switch to be more like Raphael and are very task oriented. So, we like to think we are a great combination of both. Also, we have a handful of Raphaels that we work with that trust our vision and help us make our crazy fun ideas a reality. Without them, we wouldn’t have been able to do this.”

What was the response from the students/community around this program?

“We transformed the hallway over one weekend. When the students and staff arrived that Monday it was so gratifying to see their reactions and amazement when walking through the experience. It made all the hard work and time worth it.   We also had a community/parent night for families to experience the book. Everyone was blown away and really well attended.  The response from the school and community has been amazing. Students kept wanting to take their parents through and read the book multiple times.” 

What's next? 

“Sleep!  It inspired us to approach this program differently in the future and spread events like this throughout the year to promote creativity, imagination and reading.  It brought such a jolt of energy throughout the building that we want to spread the energy and excitement throughout the year, not just for a few weeks in March. We already are in Maya mode thinking of ideas for Dot Day next year.”

Maine Educators Embark on North Star Journey With FableVision Learning

Maine's Department of Education’s State Agency Program Team set sail on a creativity journey to transform teaching practice and classroom outcomes through a unique partnership with Boston-based educational company FableVision Learning, founded by Peter H. Reynolds.

“We were eager to provide equitable access to quality instruction to Maine’s vulnerable youth in therapeutic education settings to enhance special education programming after the difficult times caused by the pandemic, when emotional and social issues have been heightened,” explained Dr. Mary Adley, Coordinator of State Agency Programs. “We wanted to provide staff and students a sense of excitement and creativity to view their world with optimism and we knew FableVision Learning would help us achieve that.”

Adley and her team provide oversight to educational programming for state wards and state agency clients. This includes the General Supervision System of Monitoring for Maine’s approved Special Purpose Private Schools. Her team also offers special education technical assistance, professional development, and support to Maine educators, students, and families for Maine children in the care or custody of the Department of Health and Human Services or the Department of Corrections, educated in all settings, both in public and private settings and within Maine and placed in out of state settings.

“Our team is delighted that FableVision is embedding the Department’s Maine MOOSE (Maine Online Opportunities for Sustained Education) modules as curricular/content to guide educators in developing creative and specially designed instruction needed to meet each student’s Individual Education Program,” shared Dr. Tracy Whitlock, Coordinator for Special Projects.

This multi-level program of support integrates evidence-based instructional strategies, such as elements of Dr. John Medina’s “Brain Rules,” with intentional focus on social-emotional welfare for both staff and students. Every month, educators from 9 agencies representing 25 schools meet virtually for the Creative Maine workshop and the FableVision Learning team guides discussions and activities around creative instructional design and inspiration to enhance teaching practice. A community of practice is provided on FableVision’s collaborative learning platform The Creativity Circle.

“We are exploring with teachers ways to expand the pathways for students to demonstrate their knowledge and to engage in deep and creative thinking,” explained Sara Smith, FableVision Learning’s creative curriculum developer. “Creativity in the classroom empowers both teachers and students to maximize their talents and make meaning.”

In addition to student projects highlighted in the Creative Maine course, educators are utilizing the FableVision Learning’s The North Star Classroom program to further develop student voice and creativity.

“The essential outcome of education is for students to know who they are and what they can give to the world,” Jane Reynolds, president of FableVision Learning said. “The classroom is where they should be able to explore their strengths, learn resilience, and discover their power to create in a safe and supportive environment.”

Based on the themes in the book “The North Star,” by FableVision founder and New York Times bestselling-author/illustrator Peter H. Reynolds, The North Star Program is a guide to creating a classroom where students uncover their true potential.

“I have found The North Star Program to be very adaptable. I can integrate it with the existing social skills curriculum as well as adjust lessons to fit the variety of learning levels in my classroom,” explained Teresa Dickson, participating educator from NFI Sidney River Bend.

The program includes best practices for setting up the classroom and establishing a positive, creative climate as well as 18+ weeks of activities and projects that help students develop their strengths, values, and goals that will start laying the path to the future selves they want to be. Activities include teamwork challenges, problem solving projects, social-emotional games and experiences, literature exploration and discussions, and personal reflection writing pieces.

“Since I have begun using The North Star Program, I have watched my students become more confident in their learning and more accepting of themselves and others,” Dickson said. “The lessons can be taught in sequence or be pulled out to target a specific concept or skill. I was able to easily integrate The North Star Program with the Common Core Standards. The North Star Program hits many content areas such as music, art, writing, reading, and poetry.”

In 2022, Maine Department of Education’s State Agency Programs and FableVision Learning will continue the Creative Maine journey as educators continue to explore creative problem solving and creative classroom management.

Be You After-School Program at Jaffrey-Rindge School District Explores Creativity and Making

The team at FableVision Learning just wrapped up a fantastic year working with the with Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District after-school program.

We worked with the New Hampshire school district to implement an exciting after-school program for K - 8/9 students that supported personal and academic success through the use FableVision’s creative tools and engaging projects.

Using custom curriculum focused on social-emotional learning (SEL) along with tools like Animation-ish, FabMaker Studio and resources from the The Peter H. Reynolds Storybook Academy the students explored their creativity while sharing their voice. To wrap up the program, FableVision hosted a virtual. end-of-year celebration of student work with special guests Paul and Peter H. Reynolds.

Here are some highlights:

Engineering and Design with FabMaker Studio

From intricate pop-ups to 3D robot Batman, students explored design engineering and paper fabrication.

Animation-ish

Students learned the basics of animation and explored different levels of Animation-ish to create their final projects (seen above in gif form).

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Are you looking to bring custom programs and curriculum to your school, after-school or camp classes? contact us at info@fablevisionlearning.com to find out more!

Classroom Spotlight: Oceanside PROJECT EXTRA holds I Am Love/Limb Kind Celebration

For this year’s “I Am Love” charity event Oceanside's PROJECT EXTRA (New York) students from all six elementary schools worked together to raise awareness and funds for the Limb Kind Foundation.

Written by Susan Verde and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, "I Am Love" is a beautifully inspiring picture book that is a celebration of love in all its forms. Love allows us to act with compassion and kindness, to live with gratitude, and to take care of ourselves by practicing self-love. 

As schools across the country are currently closed, the Project EXTRA event on March 31, 2020 became a virtual celebration.

Angela Abend, PROJECT EXTRA teacher shared on Facebook:

“What a day it was ... our virtual ‘I Am Love/Limb Kind’ Celebration definitely added some light to our day today and it was wonderful to be able to "share" it together. Thank you to all those who stepped up and helped out in a pinch! Here are all the links to the videos and presentations that were shared today. Remember ... together, especially at this time, WE are LOVE!.”

Celebrate the event with PROJECT EXTRA.

Oceanside PROJECT EXTRA reads “I Am Love”

Oceanside Project EXTRA

Oceanside PROJECT EXTRA students, with the support of Oceanside High School students, created an inspirational video recording of "I Am Love" that was to be shown as the kick-off to their charity event on March 31. 

”I Am Love” author Susan Verde shout-out to PROJECT EXTRA

Susan Verde, author of I Am Love, gives a shoutout to Project EXTRA

Peter H. Reynolds Reads "I Am Love" during
his Facebook LIVE event

Peter H. Reynolds reads I Am Love

Rob Schulman from the the Limb Kind Foundation shout-out

Rob Schulman from the Limb Kind Foundation shout out for Project EXTRA

As one of their final projects in this three-year PROJECT EXTRA program, the annual sixth grade charity project gives the students an opportunity to "give back" and share their gratitude. The students would have given their "big check" to Mr. Robert Schulman, founder and executive director of the Limb Kind Foundation, on the day of their "I Am Love" event. Inspired by the writing of Peter H. and Paul Reynolds, the class was also going to receive a surprise visit from Paul Reynolds, twin brother to Peter and co-author to one of their favorite books, "Going Places". 

The Limb Kind Foundation, is to improve the lives of children with limb loss both domestically and internationally, by strengthening the amputee community, and providing pediatric prosthetic care for all. Fifty sixth grade PROJECT EXTRA students have reached out to their Oceanside community and raised over $13,000 for the foundation. Fundraisers, speaking engagements, and community service projects rounded out their efforts and some famous musicians even joined in with generous donations, too! In addition, the students raised funds to have Limb Kind volunteers bring 30 copies of "I Am Love", along with 30 matching Beanie Babies, to the children of Ethiopia receiving free prosthetic care from the foundation. Amazingly, these students have raised $30,000 for the Limb Kind Foundation over the last three years!

More PROJECT EXTRA Shout-Outs and Rob Schulman Interview

Celebrate World Wildlife Day with FabMakerStudio!

When it comes to wildlife, the first step toward conservation may be appreciation. It’s easy for students to fall in love with nature when they explore the exciting worlds of animal life (fauna), plant life (flora), and the astounding ways in which they interrelate.

In the classroom, World Wildlife Day (March 3, 2020) provides a unique opportunity learn about the importance of biodiversity. If you’re looking to incorporate this year’s theme—Sustaining All Life on Earth—into your curriculum during the coming weeks, FabMaker Studio can serve as a fun, creative, and intuitive tool for your students.

Here’s a list of some of our favorite FabMaker Studio projects that relate to wildlife!

The Flight of the Bumblebee
There is a common myth that bumble bees defy the laws of physics as they apply to aerodynamics. How is it possible that they are able to fly? Using high-speed photography, Michael Dickinson—a professor of biology and insect flight expert at the University of Washington—researched how the bumblebee takes flight and published his findings. Through this Fab@School Maker Studio activity, your students will examine the anatomy of a bumblebee, or other flying insects.

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Giraffe Masks
Did you know that the small horns on top of a giraffe’s head are called ossicones? Giraffes appear to share these skin-covered, boned protuberances with an extinct relative called the Sivatherium. (Reference: National Geographic, "Sivatherium: A giraffe with a trunk?", and ”The Biggest Giraffe of All Time.”) Even as one of the most common symbols of wildlife, giraffes are relatively little-understood creatures, whose habits and origins are still being researched and discovered!

These card stock Giraffe Mask designs are a ready-made project in FabMaker Studio. For a simple activity, they can be assembled + worn by students, or combined into a classroom/hallway display.

Alternatively, you can use the mask designs to launch a lesson about the evolution of animal features, and how fossil records help researchers to decipher the evolutionary story of a species. With the FabMaker Studio design interface, students can use their imagination to adapt the features, or dream up attributes that the giraffe’s relatives could have evolved to survive. (For example, longer or differently-shaped ossicones, pointed teeth, a trunk, and more!)

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Pair a Wildlife Project with a Themed Book!
For World Wildlife Day (and beyond) teachers can use FabMaker Studio projects alongside themed books to create memorable experiences for their students - especially those who like to get hands-on while learning!

For example, this January at the School Within School at Goding in Washington, DC., FableVision/Reynolds Center TLC’s own Paul Reynolds spoke about his book, Sydney & Simon: Go Green!, which addresses the threat that ocean pollution poses to the environment and aquatic life…including sea turtles! Afterwards, the third grade students assembled 3D turtles that were created using FabMaker Studio.

When considering your plans for celebrating wildlife in the classroom, remember that FabMakerStudio offers ready-made projects that feature bears, birds, foxes, turkeys, deer, and many more! Consider which of your favorite books about wildlife could be paired with a paper fabrication project!

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How will you bring the lessons of World Wildlife Day in your classroom? How will you incorporate FabMakerStudio 2D and 3D fabrication to make your lessons come alive? For a chance to be featured in our FableVision Learning Spotlight, please email info@fablevisionlearning.com!

To learn more about school visits with Peter H. Reynolds and Paul Reynolds , click here.

Click here to learn about FabMaker Studio.

FABClassroom: Olympic Designs at Augustine F. Maloney Elementary

For this week's FabClassroom we head over to Augustine F. Maloney Elementary in Blackstone, MA. Monica Carty is an elementary technology teacher at Blackstone-Millville Regional School District. She has been using Fab@School Maker Studio in her after school STEM club. It has been so successful she will be launching an after-school club just for Fab@School! Monica shares how her students used FabMaker Studio to celebrate the olympics. 

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Learning about the Olympic sports is always entertaining. However, the question becomes how can it become more engaging? Well why not have the students develop their own Olympic symbols or create an argument for why one of the Fab@School Studio Maker ready-made project would make a better option.

In my technology enrichment block I did just that with a group of third grade students. In their homeroom classes they study all about the Olympic games and the history of the Olympics. Then when they came to the computer lab the review several ready-made projects and choose one to be the next Olympic symbol.

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Once they sent it to the cutter some decided to add more colors or features to meet their visions. The only requirement we game the students was they had to be able to explain how it represented the Olympics.

Overall the creative connections the students made were unbelievable! It is amazing how far students will go when given the opportunity to be creative. Thank you Fab@School Maker Studio!

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Is your classroom a FabClassroom? We would love to feature your school! To be featured in an upcoming post, send an email to info@fablevisionlearning.com. You can also tweet your photos with the hashtag #FabMakerStudio! For more posts featuring Fab@School Maker Studio, click here.