CIDRE Portfolio
CIDRE Portfolio
Embedded Files
My name is Holly Berk and I am a kindergarten teacher in the Wake County Public Schools System. I graduated from NC State in 2015 with a B.S. in Elementary Education.
I am planning to study German Fairytales during our trip to Munich, Germany.
Written Reflections:
Reflection on German Education System:
Based on the readings we completed, I have a lot of interest in the differences between the American Education System and the German Education System. The number of different pathways available to students, including a seemingly huge emphasis on vocational training options, jumped out as one of the biggest differences. It made me wonder how students are prepared throughout their education to make these choices about their path forward and how much influence students have over their own path (or rather just their parents and teachers). I imagine this emphasis on vocational training leads to these professions being more valued and respected in German culture than we see here in the US. I also found it interesting that there are very few private schools - that leads me to believe that public education is taken very seriously by government and communities to ensure that all students are getting a high-quality education.
I related to the Teacher Education article - it seems they are striving toward a common, centered, and meaningful direction for their Teacher Education across states. I was surprised to read that their teachers complete paid internships for 2 years prior to becoming licensed, but that studies find that teachers could benefit from even more fieldwork to prepare. Teaching seems to be a constant, work-in-progress, grow-as-you-go, career all around the world.
Visual Thinking Analysis:
What is going on with this object?
My thoughts immeditaely connected to Alice in Wonderland upon seeing this painting. I saw a new take on the Mad Tea Party scene.
What do you see that makes you say that?
My eyes were drawn to the teapot that is on the table near the middle of the painting. I had read a placard about this artist outside the exhibit that explained how many of her paintings in the exhibit were inspired by the darker aspects of fairytales (witches, spells, etc.). Those two things together led me to see Alice in Wonderland.
What more can we find?
I mentioned this to 2 fellow CIDRE participants that I was with and we quickly started pointing out all of the aspects that we could find as we looked deeper into this painting. We noticed a white figure underneath the table - perhaps the White Rabbit. We noticed a light source in the top left corner - perhaps the entrance to this den. We noticed a plant and some other items scattered on top of the table - suggesting that this was a gathering. We also spoke about the generous chaos and blurred lines of the painting, which envoked a feeling of being in a Wonderland-type setting. Lastly, we were intrigued by the choice of such warm, harsh colors and wondered why the artist chose this palette.
What does this object reveal about German culture?
Cecily Brown is a British artist, so there are limitations to what the piece itself reveals about German culture. However, I do think it speaks to the culture in that this German Modern Art Museum chose to devote an entire room to her works. Particuluarly the choice to display her paintings that are tied to fairytales. I think this connects to the prevalence of fairytales and folklore in German culture. German culture values the retelling of stories and new ways to adapt them with new meanings and perspectives.
Painting: The Spell by Cecily Brown
Photo taken at the Pinakothek der Moderne
Waypoint for Clio Tour: Der verrückte Eismacher
Der verrückte Eismacher, or "The Crazy Ice Cream Maker," is a whimsical ice cream shop in Munich. Visitors can select from a variety of unique ice cream flavors to enjoy in a cup or cone. The walk-up window makes it a quick stop that both tourists and locals can enjoy. There are two additional locations in Munich.
The owner, Matthias Münz, was truly inpspired to open his ice cream parlors simply through his love of ice cream. He would frequently order 7 scoops of ice cream as a child, and eventually discovered his favorite ice cream during his summers in Italy. He went on to attend Università dei Sapori in Perugia to formally learn the art of ice cream making and worked in several ice cream parlors to learn the business.
The shop is whimsically inpired by Alice in Wonderland with colorful murals and light fixtures. There is a walk-up window to easily and quickly serve guests from the sidewalk. It is located near museums, local shops, and restaurants, making it an easy stop for both tourists and locals. It was awarded "Best Ice Cream Parlor in German" by Tripadvisor in 2014 and "Best Ice Cream Parlor in Germany" by Check 24 in 2017.
Der verrückte Eismacher does not serve standard ice cream flavors. "The Crazy Ice Cream Maker" prides itself on serving "different, cold taste explosions on your tongues" with a varity of extravagant flavors. Some of these flavors feature a twist on standard ice cream, such as Strawberry Basil, Vanilla Explosion, and Cherry Banana. However, the shop is known for their unique flavors including Beer and Gorgonzola. The shop has a selection of about 14 different flavors on a given day, but will periodically change the flavors to serve different combinations of the 60+ flavors that have been created.
Four WhatsApp Text Reflections
Four Projects on Designated Cultural Theme:
CINDERELLA IN GERMANY
Informal/Experiential Learning Spaces
This pong-type game was created using Scratch. The background photo is of Neuschwanstein Castle, built by King Ludwig II, who was also known as the Fairytale King. Walt Disney used this castle as inspiration for both Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella's castles in his representations of these classic, German fairytales and in the Walt Disney Theme Parks. In this game, Cinderella is trying to catch shoes. The glass slipper, which matches the modern retelling of this story earns players 1 point. However, players will earn 2 points if they catch the golden shoe, which matches the original story of Cinderella as recorded by the Brothers Grimm. Players win after earning 10 points.
GERMAN FAIRYTALE INFLUENCE
Inquiry-Based Representation
Fairytale inspiration can be found everywhere in Germany - from museums artifacts to historical sites - which makes sense because many of the fairytales that have been adopted into American culture via the Walt Disney Company's animated and live-action films originated from German Fairytales. As I travelled around, I took photos of Fairytale inspiration including city views, crown jewels, carriages, and castles. I created this Padlet to show side-by-side the influence that German culture not only had on the plotlines of three Disney films, but also in the design and aesthetic elements. While these stories have become beloved across many cultures, the German culture remains at their root and shines through them. When comparing photos for this Padlet project, I was honestly amazed at the similarities that I found.
GERMAN FAIRYTALES
AROUND THE WORLD
Written/Multimodal Representation
This Prezi was created to showcase the artifacts and stories I collected while in Germany related to two Brothers Grimm fairytales: Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel and Gretel. Many of the artifacts were collected from the International Youth LIbrary. Others were found in various bookstores and sites while traveling around the area. Going into this particular project, I was under the assumption that these two fairytales had been changed dramatically as American and other cultures had adopted them. I discovered that not to be true. While authors from many cultures have retold these stories alight with original illustrations, the stories remain intact almost identically to the versions originally published by the Brothers Grimm, allowing many places around the world to enjoy a piece of German culture.
VISIT A FAIRYTALE TOWN
Augmented/Virtual Representation
I used Google Streetview and Thinklink to create this 360-degree tour of Kohlenmarkt and the Old Town Hall in Regensburg, Germany. It has been named an official UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its rich history as a medieval trading center. The 14th century medieval outline and the integrity of many historical structures has remained intact through preservation. When researching "fairytale towns" to visit in Germany, this charming "shopping town on the river" tops many travel lists. It is packed wtih quaint, cobblestone pedestrian streets filled with shops and restaurants. The buildings are colorful with intricate designs and artwork adorning the facades. I have included a second 360-degree image (not augmented) to show one of these cozy streets. Walking through this town definitely gave you the feeling that you had travelled back into a fairytale setting. Regensburg is a beautiful blend of history, a medieval/fairytale setting, and modern day shopping.
Lesson Plan:
This lesson plan aligns with an instructional unit that I teach during 4th quarter in my kindergarten classroom. It provides a cultural extension to lessons involving Cinderella, a German fairytale. During this lesson, students will be exposed to the cultural background of this story and learn how authors/illustrators adapt stories as they retell them. Students will interact with and add to the Disney Fairytale Inspiration Padlet that I created as one of my projects for this program. Additionally, students will play the Cinderella in Germany Scratch Game. The lesson offers an extension where students will use the product they create here to additionally create their own pong-style game on Scratch.
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