Social studies teachers:
Hiller Elementary is a school with approximately
290 students in grades K-5. We have quite a
transient population as we usually have a twenty
to thirty percent student turnover yearly. We
believe that many of our families move into the
area because they have heard of the services we
offer or may have relatives in the area. Many
students have only been in the United States for
a short period of time. There are over twenty
languages spoken in our school. We have received
the largest student enrollment from the
countries of Iraq, Albania, Romania, and China.
Our students have the opportunity to learn
about other cultures. Our staff stresses a
positive environment by taking part in the
"Character Counts Program" created by
the Josephson Institute of Ethics. Six qualities
or pillars of character are stressed throughout
the school year. These qualities are
trustworthiness, citizenship, respectfulness,
responsibility, caring, and fairness.
As an exercise, the students were asked how
the six pillars of good character relate to the
common good of their school, the school
environment and community. Emphasis on these
qualities helped prepare students to learn about
the three perfections in East Asian culture that
were valued as a way for scholars to attain
knowledge and develop good character.
Silk Road Extension Activities
Hiller Elementary students also participated in
a Silk Road trade activity, which enhanced their
understanding of the historical, economic, and
artistic connections between different regions
and nations of the world, and their appreciation
of the interaction between Asia and the rest of
the world. For more information, contact the
social studies teachers.
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Student sketchbook cover |
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Student sketchbook pages |
Art teacher:
I was impressed with the ease in which the
students took to East Asian styles of painting.
Preparation was crucial to this success: showing
the video, demonstrating, and having lots of
visuals for them to refer to encourage the
students to be creative.
Hiller Elementary students also created hanging
scrolls, fans, and sketchbooks during their
semester, using the knowledge they acquired from
these art lessons.
At this spring's fifth grade graduation
ceremony, the walls were decorated with the
students' scrolls, fans, and sketchbooks. The
fifth graders wrote and gave a PowerPoint
presentation on the three perfections to a
standing-room-only crowd of parents and
grandparents. I was proud and impressed with the
learning that had taken place during our in
depth study of the three perfections of East
Asia.
Throughout the semester I was aware of the large
amount of time we were spending on this one area
of art history. The students' presentation
helped me feel the time was well spent. I feel
their "enlightenment" about other
cultures' ideals will stay with them for a
lifetime; I know it will with me.
Teacher Contacts
John Farquhar, social studies teacher
Theresa Sadlier, social studies teacher
Craig Hinshaw, art teacher
Hiller Elementary School
400 E. La Salle
Madison Heights, MI 48071
http://www.lamphere.k12.mi.us/education/school/school.php?sectionid=4
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