Category Archives: Uncategorized

posted on August 29, 2013

I am honored to be associated with John Lombardo, and Artworks for Youth as a member of the board. John has spent years developing an exceptional program bringing art classes and art appreciation to members of South Africa’s under-served communities. John connects schools in New York City with his program, and avails students and parents of an inestimable opportunity for personal growth and an awareness of the world in which we live. This program could serve as an inspirational model for school community service projects.

View a You Tube interview with John HERE

posted on April 15, 2013

My niece, Josian Heyerdahl, says of her grandfather Thor Heyerdahl that he was someone who really believed in his ideas, and did amazing things to follow his dreams. Indeed, what he did would make a wonderful introduction for middle and upper-school students to the STEM/STEAM process.

Heyerdahl observed strikingly similar ancient art inscriptions in locations separated by oceans, and surmised that ancient peoples in fact used oceans as highways. Thor differed with others in his field who felt that oceans were barriers to human migration. Heyerdahl decided to put his ideas into practice. He studied ancient raft building techniques, and insisted that his Kon-Tiki raft be made the same way. He then put to sea to test his migration theory even though he could not swim!

Whether or not one agrees with his theories, here is a man who can be used as an example to demonstrate to students the STEM/STEAM process of combining these disciplines to try out an experiment or idea. Here is a project utilizing Steam, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics in a wonderfully dramatic fashion.

The recent film Kon-Tiki, distributed this month in the USA by The Weinstein Company, and the best selling book by the same name can form an exciting backdrop or introduction to the concept of STEM/STEAM. This could lead to discussions on the oceans, engineering, rediscovering ancient technical knowledge, and many related topics. Heyerdahl’s subsequent Ra and Tigris vessels and voyages are no less interesting to students.

Thor Heyerdahl HERE

Kon-Tiki film HERE

 

 

posted on April 2, 2013

This Foundation was formed as an aptitude testing and research entity. The leveled workbooks on vocabulary are thorough and detailed, giving several excellent opportunities for students to become familiar with the words selected for each chapter.

Buy the workbooks HERE

posted on February 25, 2013

In our modern society where local actions often tend to have global implications, the nature of the problems we face and the opportunities we seek have broadened considerably. This broadening of scope carries with it a corresponding increase in the complexities of these issues. It is, therefore, incumbent upon educators to teach young students how to find problems and opportunities, think through them in a formalized way, and to come up with possible courses of action.

Kickstarter is a wonderful forum where people discuss their interesting ideas, and look for funding from the public. This very democratic medium for sharing ideas and raising venture capital provides an excellent starting point for teachers endeavoring to introduce this topic to students. One activity might be to ask students to look for an interesting funding project, and report back to the class.

Link to Kickstarter  HERE