Academics in Motion
Academics in Motion (Teaching Artist: Julianne O'Brien Pedersen)
Elizabeth Freese Elementary (An Arts & Culture Magnet School)
All 280 first, third and fifth grade students at Freese Elementary spend one hour each week with a Malashock Dance Teaching Artist who supports current academic curricula with each dance lesson. First grade students focus on reading comprehension skills as they explore the concepts of character, plot, and setting through movement. Third Graders explore Japanese culture and history as they choreograph dances based on hiaku and traditional woodblock prints. Their ten-week roatation culminates in an interactive field trip to the San Diego Museum of Art where they experience a docent-led tour and Malashock Dance Company performance. Fifth Graders study history and geography through the development of movement and choreography. Dances reflect the landscapes, shelters, tools, and communities of pre-Colombian settlements in America. All students journal each week to reflect on connections and applications, while providing a direct measurement of what the students have learned during class.
Education is more than simply a core curriculum; it must include an introduction into the larger world. This magnet program opens the eyes of our students to some of the best mankind has to offer. The variety of music, art, theater, and dance are studied not only for their own singular value, but also for the role they play in defining our community and culture.
Lauren Vacchi
Freese Teacher
