My Teaching and the Explorer Mindset: 1st Quarter 2024
Open House and Week 1 of School: At our August 2024 Open House, I brought my album of all the printed photographs from my trip to Alaska as a Grosvenor Teacher Fellow (as well as from my trip to New England and Canada as a Fund for Teacher Fellow) to share and display. Parents, students, families, and Open House visitors could visually see all the pictures from my trip. In addition, I brought coloring book pages back from Alaska and gave everyone who stopped to see me at Open House some Alaska coloring pages they could color and bring back for me to display (they could bring some back for display, and keep some at home). My first week back was filled with students bringing back their pages of Alaska! We then put all the beautiful Alaska coloring pages, from students, in the hallway outside my classroom for everyone to view. This worked well with the first day of school, where I shared this blog and my travels with all my students. I have some of the same students that I had last year, and those students were so glad to see that their work in helping me prepare for Alaska was well-received (such as their watercolors). It all came full-circle! For the August 2024 school board meeting, my school board received a handout, with pictures, about my summer teacher fellowships, sharing about my experience with the school board and community members. I had recently spoke at a local Rotary meeting about my experience as well. This used the Explore Mindset attitude of Curious and Explorer Mindset Knowledge of Seek Inter-Connections and Learn About Human and Natural Systems.
Above at left: This student had one of my classes last year, and another of my classes this year, so she has been able to hear all about Alaska! Above at right: Student coloring pages of Alaska displayed in the hallway outside my classroom. Below left: This was another student who I had again both school years; the students all came running up to me asking "How was Alaska?" I was excited to show them that their watercolors were shared on the ship during my presentation and they were so excited to hear about the journey. Below center and right: More student coloring pages.
Week 2 of school: Archaeologist Dr. Tim Mulvihill of the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith spoke to my concurrent college credit US History to 1877 students about Native American history, including detailed information on Native American history in our own local area. Students were able to actually see and hold artifacts that were thousands of years old while making connections to the importance of studying this history. While I have had Dr. Mulvihill visit in the past, as part of the Explorer Mindset I spent more time preparing for his visit with students through studying Native American history more deeply before the visit. Students connected to this guest speaking event and the importance of learning and honoring Native American history both nationally and within our own local area. Students learned how the geography of our local area shaped the past as well. Below are pictures from this event, which used the Explorer Mindset Attitude of Curious, the Explorer Mindset Knowledges of Learn About Human and Natural Systems and Learn About Human Interconnections, and the Explorer Mindset Skill of Use Geographic Perspectives.
One student wrote of this visit: "Yesterday we had a guest speaker. He showed us many different artifacts from long ago. His presentation was quite fascinating, I learned many things I did not know before. He passed around a couple pieces of cool things and we all got to look at something from history long ago up close." Another student wrote, "it was interesting learning about different time periods. He had many interesting things to say and a lot of cool things he brought with him." Another student wrote, "Today Ozark High School had an archaeologist come talk to Mrs.Culvers college History class. It was very cool to see all the things he brought in. We even got to hold them. We asked lots of questions to learn more." Another student wrote, " An archeologist came to our first hour yesterday. He taught us a lot of history in Arkansas and the different people in different time periods here. We also got to look at the cool artifacts he brought. We took a picture for the newspaper and I was standing right next to him." This visit, with a picture, was published in the local newspaper The Spectator and on the Ozark High School social media page.
Week 3: After we had a guest speaker who emphasized the importance of researching and understanding local history, my concurrent college credit history students created brochures about numerous aspects of local history in our community and state. Students donated these brochures to the Ozark Chamber of Commerce so that everyone who visits the local area can learn more about these topics. We took a photo of two students donating these brochures to Mrs. Karen Hawkins of the Ozark Chamber of Commerce and put this in our local newspaper The Spectator and on our school's social media. The Ozark Chamber of Commerce was excited to have all this local history available for visitors to the area. Pictured below are some of the students with their completed brochures; each student researched and created their own topic and brochure, and now they can share their knowledge with a wider audience. The topics students made brochures about included Native American history, historical buildings in the community, Arkansas caves, Arkansas parks, the history of our town's courthouse, the history of our river bridge, numerous aspects of Arkansas's economic and business history, Arkansas's musical history, the history of a state university's Razorback mascot, local sports history, the history of a nearby abbey, and more. This used the Explorer Mindset Attitude of Curious, the Explorer Mindset Knowledges of Seek Interconnections and Learn About Human and Natural Systems, and the Explorer Mindset Skills of Collaborate and Communicate.
Weeks 4 and 5: Ozark High School concurrent college credit students not only made these brochures, but five of these students presented about this brochure activity at the September Ozark Chamber of Commerce meeting. Attendees at this meeting included the town mayor, the school superintendent, the school superintendent, and many local community members. The students who presented at this September chamber meeting were Rylee S., Sydnie H., Dean C., Noah H., and Bryce G. Each student was able to showcase their brochure and discuss what they learned. The Chamber of Commerce attendees were very supportive of this activity, and community members were excited to take these brochures to share around the community. We donated many copies of selected student brochures to the Chamber of Commerce to be shared at locations throughout the community. I worked closely with the Ozark Chamber of Commerce to make sure these brochures got into the community; the chamber will be sharing the selected student brochures that focused on the history of our local area. This chamber presentation was a great way to connect student learning to a community action project! Below are pictures from this event. This was also shared on school social media and in the local newspaper. This continued the Explorer Mindset Attitude of Curious, the Explorer Mindset Knowledges of Seek Interconnections and Learn About Human and Natural Systems, and the Explorer Mindset Skills of Collaborate and Communicate.
Brochures from all students were displayed on the walls of the school hallway at parent-teacher conference night; a picture of these displayed at parent-teacher conference night is at left. Overall, students and I both learned a great deal about our local area and the importance of discovering the history and environment that is all around us. When students were able to research and discover topics that interested them, and then connect that to the world around us, true learning occurred.
Week 6: I traveled to Philadelphia for Constitution Day, spending September 17th at the National Constitution Center and meeting Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch. I attended a Preamble reading, a very moving naturalization ceremony, a lunch with Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, a speech from Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for Civil Rights at the U.S Department of Justice, an evening reception, an evening discussion led by President and CEO of the National Constitution Center Jeffrey Rosen with Justice Gorsuch and his co-author Janie Nietze, and then a book signing; I also met MSNBC host Ali Velshi. It was a wonderful experience for my own Explorer Mindset, encouraging the Explorer Skill of Communication and Collaboration, as well as the Explorer Knowledge of Seek Interconnections and the Explorer Attitude of Curious. I spent the day with teachers from around the country, learning how to make civic involvement and civic engagement an important part of our students' classroom experiences. Below are pictures from this experience.
When I returned from Constitution Day at the National Constitution Center, I gave students a presentation about my experience; I presented all Civics students with their own pocket Constitutions, courtesy of a nonprofit organization, and I gave all concurrent college credit history students a small card about Independence National Historic Park, courtesy of the park. Below are pictures of this. I worked to provide students with the same Explorer Mindset Attitudes, Skills, and Knowledge that I gained from the experience.
Also in Week 6: Concurrent college credit US History students had a Zoom guest speaker from the US Army Women's Museum, who spoke about women in the Revolutionary War. A picture of some students participating in this is at the left. This used the Explorer Mindset of Knowledge of Seek Interconnections and the the Explorer Mindset Attitude of Curious.
Week 7: My 11th grade Civics student Ava M. and I have been working with the national Teaching for Democracy Alliance, a part of CIRCLE at Tuft's, to increase civic engagement. Ava and I participate in regular Zooms with teachers and students from other parts of the country to grow civic engagement and share the importance of political engagement. In this role, Ava held a voter registration drive at our high school on September 25th registering 34 new voters at our high school! Ava worked in our school library with Tammy S. and Dara K. from Ozark's Franklin County Courthouse, to register students. Pictured below are photos of this event, along with Ava and the community members from our courthouse. Ava also signed up students to volunteer at early voting in our community as well; way to go! This day included the Explorer Mindset Skills of Proble Solve, Collaborate, Communicate and the Attitude of Empowered and Curious. It was an amazing day of voter registration!
Week 7: Celebrating the International Day of Peace. International Day of Peace guest speaker, Mr. AC Moncrief, spoke to concurrent college credit history students. Mr. Moncrief served in the US Peace Corps in the 1960s, and was drawn to serving in the organization after receiving a letter from John F. Kennedy! He spoke to my concurrent college credit history students about the importance of Peace Day and spreading peace, and the students LOVED IT!! He had photos from the 1960s, from his service in Malawi, and hand-held items as well. A great experience! Pictures from this event are below. This connected to the Explorer Mindset Attitudes of Empathetic and Curious; the Explorer Mindset Knowledge of Seek Interconnections and Learn About Human and Natural Systems; and the Explorer Mindset Skills of Use Geographic Perspectives and Apply Geographic Practices.
Week 7 continued: Civics students made life-size character sketches of Federalists/Anti-Federalists while studying the Constitution. In small groups, students had to decide if they would have been Federalist or Anti-Federalist, and then create life-size character sketches showcasing this. The activity used creativity, different viewpoints, teamwork, and art. This used the Explorer Mindset Attitude of Curious; the Explorer Mindset Skill of Collaborate, Problem Solve, and Communicate. Pictured below are some of the students with this activity.
Week 8: Guest speaker Mrs. Angela Adams from the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) and Arkansas National History Day (NHD) spoke to a group of concurrent college credit history students about NHD and this year's theme of Rights and Responsibilities. Students were able to delve deeper into their interests and research topics with this guest speaker, focusing on the Explorer Mindset Attitude of Curious and the Explorer Mindset Skills of Collaborate, Communicate, and Problem-Solve. A picture of this event is at left.
Week 8 continued: Ozark High School Stock Market Club students read books about economics and finance to the Ozark third grade classrooms on 10/2/24, as part of the national JumpStart Teen Teach-In. October is National Economic Education Month, and the high school students helped teach economic concepts to the younger grades. After this, the high school Stock Market Club students toured the Ozark lock and dam to learn about the economics and history of our river system. Pictured below are photos of these events. These activities included the Explorer Mindset Attitude of Curious, the Explorer Mindset Knowledge of Seek Interconnections and Learn About Human and Natural Systems, and the Explorer Mindset Skills of Communicate, Use Geographic Perspectives, and Apply Geographic Practices.
Below: Reading at the elementary school
Below: Touring the lock and dam
Week 8 continued: Guest speakers. School resources officer Truman Phillips spoke to Civics students on 10/3/24 about how laws relate to them; this is pictured below. Kathleen Pate from the Clinton Presidential Library spoke to students by Zoom about the Constitution on 10/4/24; this is pictured below as well. This continued the Explorer Mindset Attitude of Curious and the Explorer Mindset Knowledge of Seek Interconnections.
Week 9: Concurrent college history students learned about the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Trail. We live in part of the Louisiana Purchase, so students went outside and took photos for a photo portrait activity; students also made quotes to go with their selected portrait. I printed out the photos and quotes, and then students each received their own frame for their portrait and quote. After decorating their individual frames, students placed their portrait and quote in the frame for their own personal photo story about how the Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and Clark Trail still relates to us today. Below are pictures of this activity. This used the Explorer Mindset Skills of Use Geographic Perspectives and Apply Geographic Practices, the Explorer Attitude of Curious, and the Explorer Mindset Knowledge of Learn About Human and Natural Systems and Seek Interconnections.
The Explorer Mindset
The Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship experience has absolutely led to new ideas and inspirations, specifically in relation to the National Geographic Explorer Mindset. I specifically found many connections to the Explorer Mindset Attitude of Curiosity, the Explorer Mindset Skills of Collaboration and Communication, and the Knowledge of Seeking Interconnections. Below is the Explorer Mindset graphic from National Geographic, which can be used to build the Explorer Mindset in any classroom.