Artist Boat staff of biologists and artists present a selection of fascinating professional development programs that combine art and science in the classroom. Professional development workshops may focus on the ecosystems of the Houston/Galveston coastal margin; human uses and impacts on natural resources; the morphology and adaptations of local flora & fauna; the migratory patterns of whales, pelagic fishes, butterflies, and birds; or natural processes. Artist Boat is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting awareness and preservation of coastal margins and the marine environment through the disciplines of the sciences and the arts. All instruction utilizes integrated methods to teach science and art.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Picture a science class on insects where students act out the roles of honeybees or a lesson on the body’s circulatory system where students shape their bodies into a beating heart and a breathing lung. These are examples of children learning through their kinesthetic, visual, and music intelligence. The teacher is using movement to teach TEKS-based lessons in science. Learning Through Movement is a workshop for elementary teachers, K-5th*. The workshop is divided into three sections. First, teachers gain knowledge of the Elements of Dance (movement terminology). Second, Valls models lessons that use movement and music as teaching tools for instruction in science, math, literature, and social studies. Third, teachers create their own movement lesson for their grade level. The workshop culminates with teachers sharing and demonstrating their movement lesson plans. Other related issues addressed are time and space limitations in the classroom, the use of props and music, and behavior management. With a Master of Fine Arts in choreography from the Sarah Lawrence College in New York, Becky Valls has been active for more than 20 years as a choreographer for numerous dance companies, series, and universities. She has extensive experience as a teaching artist and as a performer in schools. Currently she is on the dance faculty at the University of Houston, and the director and choreographer of Becky Valls and Company.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This dynamic workshop encourages educators to develop creative communication skills by practicing techniques of pantomime, voice fluctuation, gesture, eye contact, body language, and timing, bringing the art of teaching to a new level of creative expression. The activities in this workshop offer new insights that connect any content area of TEKS to storytelling. Dan Gordon is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a degree in Drama and Creative Writing. As a professional storyteller, he has presented his character to audiences of all ages throughout the United States, Israel, and Australia.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Hope Shiver helps teachers discover simple ways to give a dramatic twist to math, language arts, social studies, and science. She shows that any lesson can use drama to address topics such as phonics, analysis, vocabulary, sequencing, physical landforms, culture, problem solving, computation, physical and chemical properties, systems and the food chain. Hope Shiver has a Master of Music Degree from the University of Oregon, and is a winner of the Madame Rose Vocal Competition and George Hawkins Playwriting Award. She enjoys a diverse career performing as an opera a musical theatre singer, actress, writer and music educator.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT