Educators get a field trip to Flint's Cultural Center
Carolyn Gist
Issue date: 9/13/02 Section: Local News
Area educators got to be students for a day as they toured Flint's Cultural Center to get a jumpstart on planning field trips and curriculum activities for the new school year. Teacher's kicked of f the day at the C.S. Mott Applewood Estate touring the apple orchards, Demonstration, Rose, Main house and Perennial gardens. Visitors received goodie bags and apples. The education staff was available at each stop to answer questions and give demonstrations about craft and science projects related to the gardens and orchards.
Applewood's current programs are only open to Flint elementary school students but high school teachers still found useful ideas. Guests were allowed to pick a flower and were shown how to transfer it onto a piece of linen, presoaked in a special solution, to make a colorful art project. They were given the recipe to take and try on their own.
"I can definitely use this with the older kids to decorate journals or make wall hangings," said Alfreda Harris as she collected recipes. Harris works with a special project at Flint's Northern High School. "It's too bad that I can't bring my students here because this would be perfect for them to see that despite all of Flint's economic and political problems there are some great institutions here. This garden's like a hidden piece of paradise right here in the middle of Flint."
All centers focus on education, listing the Michigan curriculum standards that it satisfies. Sloan Museum's Living History project is including teenaged students as time travelers. The project requires research, character development, costume design and improvisational technique but no experience is required. History will be retold with actors coming to life as historical figures such as Charles S. Mott and Floyd McCree.
The Cultural Center Corporation recruited teacher's to participate in the Color Line Project where they learn the story circle process as a teaching tool. Eight teachers will be selected to participate in an institute next summer featuring Urban Bush Women, a nationally recognize performance ensemble. Teachers will work for two weeks with the group, a local artist and community group to develop a performance piece for the summer family celebration.
Applewood's current programs are only open to Flint elementary school students but high school teachers still found useful ideas. Guests were allowed to pick a flower and were shown how to transfer it onto a piece of linen, presoaked in a special solution, to make a colorful art project. They were given the recipe to take and try on their own.
"I can definitely use this with the older kids to decorate journals or make wall hangings," said Alfreda Harris as she collected recipes. Harris works with a special project at Flint's Northern High School. "It's too bad that I can't bring my students here because this would be perfect for them to see that despite all of Flint's economic and political problems there are some great institutions here. This garden's like a hidden piece of paradise right here in the middle of Flint."
All centers focus on education, listing the Michigan curriculum standards that it satisfies. Sloan Museum's Living History project is including teenaged students as time travelers. The project requires research, character development, costume design and improvisational technique but no experience is required. History will be retold with actors coming to life as historical figures such as Charles S. Mott and Floyd McCree.
The Cultural Center Corporation recruited teacher's to participate in the Color Line Project where they learn the story circle process as a teaching tool. Eight teachers will be selected to participate in an institute next summer featuring Urban Bush Women, a nationally recognize performance ensemble. Teachers will work for two weeks with the group, a local artist and community group to develop a performance piece for the summer family celebration.
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