Going Places Family Night with Portland Public Schools and The Portland Art Museum

Young creatives revved their engines at Maine’s Portland Museum of Art in October for the Portland Public Schools/FableVision Going Places Family Night featuring author Paul Reynolds. 

Paul welcomed families to the museum and started the night with a reading of Going Places, the perfect picture book for any STEAM library, and then launched into a showing of the animated film version of Ish, written by Peter H. Reynolds and animated by FableVision Studios. As a bonus the museum purchased a copy of Going Places for every child. These stories set the stage for what was to come. 

WIth books in hand, families journeyed to another part of the museum for dots and dots of activities that were centered on sparking creativity and collaboration. Every Family Night hosted by FableVision is customized for the schools and this one was no exception. The first-ever Going Places Build-Your-Own Go-Cart station was a hit with young engineers as they built a moving vehicle with recycled materials. 

Check out the photos from the night.

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Would you like to host a Create Bravely Family Night? Send an email to Andrea Calvin at andrea@fablevision.com

FableVision/Reynolds Center Celebrates Creativity at the ED Games Expo

FableVision/Reynolds Center Celebrates Creativity at the ED Games Exp0

From engineering a building that could withstand an alien invasion to rescuing Zoombinis to crafting a hit broadway musical about the national parks to exploring the culture of the Sugpiaq tribe in Alaska, the 9th annual ED Games Expo in DC was fueled by creativity and FableVision Games. 

FableVisionaries Paul Reynolds, Andrea Calvin, Mary Johnston, Nadya Karpova, Snow Dong and Elizabeth Rowe from TERC worked with students from the DC area as they explored the different learning games on Wednesday, Sept. 20 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts REACH Center.

The ED Games Expo is a showcase of game-changing education technology innovations developed through programs at the Institute of Education Sciences, the U.S. Department of Education, and across government. FableVision/The Reynolds Center was invited to highlight several of their tools including: Zoombinis, FabMaker Studio, Civics: An American Musical and Nunaka. 

At the event students got hands-on with the tools in the larger expo where specific classes were invited to join a one hour master class either using FabMaker Studio or Civics. 

The following day, FableVision/Reynolds Center  co-founder and CEO Paul Reynolds and vice president Andrea Calvin shared about FabMaker Studio at ScIC13: Science is Cool 13 UnConference. You can check out the replay here.

Washington Elementary School, New Hampshire

There’s something special about the little New Hampshire school at the top of a steep dirt driveway. Inside the doors of Washington Elementary School kindness, creativity, and curiosity flows. Recently the school welcomed Paul and Peter H. Reynolds and the FableVision Team for a Family Night, school visits, Animation-ish workshops and teacher PD.   

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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 Celebrates Civics at Bridgewater State University

FableVision’s co-founders Paul and Peter H. Reynolds were delighted to join Bridgewater State University’s College of Education and Health Sciences and the Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice for a Universal Children’s Day celebration focused on civics and student voice.

Kicking off the day, Paul Reynolds and FableVision Learning’s Andrea Calvin Zoomed with middle school students that have been using Civics! An American Musical in their studies. The free game available through FableVision Games, is a production of FableVision Studios, Maryland Public Television, Maryland Humanities, and Tufts’ Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. A part of the Library of Congress’ Teaching with Primary Sources Program, Civics! Is designed to teach middle school students how to analyze primary sources and have fun while doing it.

@unitycharter, we have been integrating the game, Civic! An American Musical during ss while learning to become informed citizens to affect change. Today, we got to meet with the game developers- @FablePaul and Andrea, from @FableLearn! Thank you for your inspirational words! pic.twitter.com/nOy2qJAp8Y

— Amy Mercado (@amyteachtech) November 18, 2021

In Civics! An American Musical, players work with the different theatrical departments to learn about a number of important aspects of creating a musical, such as costuming, set design, writing, and music. As the producer, players select the subject matter for their musical from four historical topics: the desegregation of public schools, the National Parks, the FDA, and the Chinese Exclusion Act. It’s then up to them to create a new smash Broadway musical hit that is historically accurate and celebrates the power of everyday citizens in creating change.

The afternoon continued with a fireside chat. BSU pre-service teachers and Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice Fellows had an intimate conversation with Paul Reynolds as he shared FableVision’s message of creating bravely they shared their experiences from the classroom. 

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A highlight of the conversation included a video, from the education music department at BSU. Using the lyrics from Civics! An American Musical, students put their spin on The Poison Squad song. Check it out below (and play the game to hear the original).

The evening concluded with the MRISJ Civic Speaker Series chat Using Creative Arts to Spark Civic Action in Youth. The virtual conversation was moderated by Dr. Sheena Manuel, Assistant Professor of Special Education, and featured Paul Reynolds and Peter H. Reynolds. Peter, who was on his national tour for his new book Our Table, zoomed from LA and read from his best-selling picture book Say Something, which includes an illustration that pays homage to Martin Richard holding his now world-famous poster, which reads “No more hurting people. Peace.”

Martin was the youngest victim of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, and the son of Bridgewater alumni Bill and Denise Richard, who met each at the university.

To play Civics! An American Musical, create your free account here. Read more about the research study behind Civics! An American Musical.

HUTCH Magazine NOW Accepting Submissions

What Is HUTCH?

HUTCH is a kids’ literary and creativity magazine, published semi-annually under the direction of Peter H. Reynolds, with the help of The Blue Bunny Bookstore, and his non-profit foundation, The Reynolds Center for Teaching, Learning, and Creativity.

The magazine is seeking student submissions. Submission details can be found, here. Deadline is Oct. 15. 

The magazine features stories, art, poetry, book reviews, travel logs and interviews submitted by students. The first issue of HUTCH was published in June of 2008.  

Each Spring and Fall, The Blue Bunny invites children ages 5-12 to submit art, poetry, stories, book reviews, photos and other journalistic pieces for consideration.  Each issue starts with a central theme, and all submissions are requested to be focused toward positive values.  

The magazine is produced with help from a volunteer editing staff and The Reynolds Center, where the layout and design is enhanced with original illustrations and art direction by Peter H. Reynolds. The 40-page magazine is published in a high-gloss professionally-printed format, and is also available as a online download.

Every new issue is welcomed with a publication party at The Blue Bunny Bookstore, where all of the children who have contributed can celebrate with their families.  Every child whose submission is accepted receives an invitation to the party, along with a free copy of the magazine and a certificate.  Peter always addresses the group of children with a encouraging speech and a crowd-pleasing countdown as he opens the box of freshly printed magazines.  After the magazines are distributed, a group photo in front of the Blue Bunny Bookstore has been a tradition. 

All children in grades K-6 are invited to submit their creative work for consideration for publication.  Printed copies of the magazine may be ordered online or through The Blue Bunny Bookstore by calling the store directly at 781-493-6568.  Printed copies may also be purchased in store at 577 High St, in Dedham, MA.

HUTCH Mission:

HUTCH magazine provides a validating forum for young learners to share their ideas and focus on positive values. HUTCH is an accessible resource for child educators wishing to encourage meaningful learning through the unique experience of being published. 

How to Submit:

If you have interest in having kids published in an actual magazine (for kids) this is your chance! Email nrothmarsh@yahoo.com if you're interested

Next Issue (19):

The suggested theme for the next issue is: "I Was Brave, I Am Brave, I Will Be Brave!"
The deadline for submissions is Oct. 15, 2017. 

Issue 19 will be released in December.

Sydney & Simon Blast Off in Their Latest Adventure: To The Moon!

They’ve used STEAM-thinking to save Greenie, revive flowers for the art show, and now Sydney & Simon are embarking on their next adventure that is truly out of this world.

In To The Moon, the twin mice flex their creative and collaborative muscles to create a STEAM-inspired project about the Earth’s Moon, all for a chance to meet astronaut Kris Kornfield!

To The Moon is the third installment in the STEAM-powered Sydney & Simon series, which includes Full Steam Ahead and Go Green, written by real-life twins Peter H. and Paul Reynolds. To The Moon is available now from Peter H. Reynolds’ own book store, The Blue Bunny Books & Toys.

To celebrate the book’s release, we put on our own STEAM-powered hats to develop a few activities for our paper prototyping and fabrication tool, Fab@School Maker Studio:

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Inspired by Simon’s moon-matching game, you can test your skills with the Fab@School Maker Studio 2D Moon Phase Puzzle. Try adding an extra challenge by filling in each Moon phase name yourself!

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Join Kris Kornfeild on her mission and blast off with an animated Rocket Launch pop-up that slides up and down!

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Or cruise through space with the Rocket Flight Path pop-up. Try making new tracks for the rocket to trace for an extra creative challenge!

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Finally, test your FAB skills with the 3D Rocket Ship. Can you change the shape or size of the design? Can you put yourself and Commander Kris Kornfield inside the rocket?

The FableVision Learning team is excited to see what your students are fabricating, animating, and writing! Share your Moon-inspired Fab@School Maker Studio creations by emailing Patrick@FableVisionLearning.com. You may even get the chance to be featured in a future blog post!

But wait! Did you know that our Moon is going to pass directly between the Earth and the Sun on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017? This solar eclipse is a very rare event, and a great opportunity to use STEAM to learn and teach others about our position in the solar system. Check out NASA’s Solar Eclipse resource here.

Paul & Peter H. Reynolds' 17 Tips for Recharging Your Creativity

Here are 17 tried-and-true tips for recharging your creativity. We hope you'll enjoy trying some of these today!

Tip #1. Relax. Make some tea.

Tip #2. Articulate your mission. Write it down. Share it. Review it.

Tip #3. Take time to ponder.Where are you going? Or, a better question: Where do you WANT to be going?

Tip #4. Be playful!

Tip #5. Remember to take care of the spirit. (Both student & teacher!) "Find your soul, and make it whole." No "crushed spirits" - no "lost souls"!

More tips after the jump!

Tip #6. Imagine your classroom as a studio, as a research center, as a publishing house.

Tip #7. Step off the path in your teaching. Allow the same for your students in their learning.

Tip #8. Celebrate the blank page! Use programs that allow the user to supply the content or buy a blank journal! Whichever it is... dive in! Doodle. Jot. Ramble. Let it out! (Link to wonderful blank page)

Tip #9. Listen, talk, connect. Believe in the power of the 6-minute conversation.

Tip #10. Find your twin! Share yourself and your dreams with a very close friend. Someone who shares and supports your vision.

Tip #11. Try left field. When looking for solutions, reduce the pressure of coming up with the best idea by allowing yourself to come up with the "worst" idea. Build from there! The "bad" ideas can turn out to be the best because they're the ones everyone else has overlooked.

Tip #12. Share the drive. Like any long road trip, share the wheel. You don't always have to know where an activity is going. Just enjoy the ride. Allow yourself to be surprised. Students are especially engaged when they see you are too!

Tip #13. Novelty. Shake things up. Make it new. It can be as simple as turning off the lights or playing a modern piece of music to introduce Shakespeare. Research supports the idea that novelty is a long-term memory booster.

Tip #14. Search for personal meaning. Provide context and essence before you launch into the details. Connect with a learner's interests, dreams, and unique skills.

Tip #15. Encourage strategies for personal achievement. Allow for multiple approaches to a project. Provide time for students to vision their own futures and explore what they'll need to make it real.

Tip #16. Prove your groove! "Eat your own cookin'!" Model it. Show your students your own work, your examples, your enthusiasm!

Tip #17. Love what you do. Do what you love. Love, love, love, love your kids. It's a gift they'll carry with them for the rest of their lives. Fuel for the journey.