This project was written with the idea that it would be implemented at a newly opened magnet school in New Haven called the Clinton Avenue Language Academy. The school focuses on multicultural activities and teaches Spanish to all students in the program. Implementation at that school was not possible, however.
This unit was proposed to the 17 teachers at Davis Elementary School in February, 1991. Teachers liked the idea, and are presently reviewing the unit for use between April and June. Teachers have the option of adding a culture that they are presently studying. Mexico and Israel have already been added to the unit. The Physical Education teacher, Art Teacher and Music Teacher will be involved. Since the project started much later than anticipated, each classroom teacher will determine the “depth of study” based on his or her resources and time. Two important goals will still be achieved: to expose students to different cultures and to promote positive school community relations.
For more information on the outcome of this unit and further enhancements, changes and implementations, OR if you have implemented the unit and would like to share your changes and feedback, you can contact me: Bill Derry, Comprehensive Arts Program, Gateway Center, 54 Meadow Street, New Haven, CT 06519.
A special thanks to Professor Tom Whitaker, who lead our Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute seminar, entitled “Contemporary American Drama: Scripts and Performance.” He provided rich experiences in improvisation and helped us analyze characters and scenes from several plays. He was instrumental in shaping the final form of this unit.
