Fielding, Cathy Project Descriptions

Fulbright GPA to Russia/June-July 2008 Follow-Up Plan for Cathy R. Fielding I. Personal Coat of Arms (Elementary students) Using Murom Coat of Arms and background history, students will create their coat of arms, representing themselves and their family. A getting-to-know-you activity. II. A Palek Painting Experience (Elementary students) The Art Teacher & I have co-written a grant for the purchase of Scratchboard. Using palek painted lacquer boxes from Vladimir, and the book Russian Fairy Tales: Palek Painting, by Alexei Orleansky, we will offer this art activity to fourth and fifth graders, at the same time as Russian Fairy Tales unit in the library. III. Russian Fairy Tales (Elementary students) Using Russian Fairy Tales: Palek Painting, by Alexei Orleansky as a resource – and other library books, we will focus on classic Russian fairy tales as a unit of study, and the lesson such tales can teach us. This will include resources purchased (and gifts) from Russia, such as a Baba Yaga puppet. Mrs. Fielding will also dress up in the Russian folk costume provided by Ron Pope, as folk costume is featured in the illustrations of so many fairy tales. IV. Russian Culture Display (Elementary students) At the same time as the art and fairy tale activities, I plan a major display on Russian Culture in our library. Russian families in our community will be invited to participate and bring in their cultural representations, or “treasures” to share with and educate our school community about Russian culture. V. Foreign Language Collection (Elementary students) Shelving has already been ordered/received and is now in place to house a growing collection of foreign language books and materials – to include Russian language – for use by English As A Second Language students/families/teachers at our campus. These resources will also be available to other campuses in our district through InterLibrary Loan. I purchased some books at a Vladimir bookstore to include and am ordering more with library funds this year.

VI. Roadrunner Service Council (Elementary Students) Our 5th grade students can join the Roadrunner* Service Council, an after-school club that spearheads numerous service projects throughout the year. The schools we visited in Russia wanted us to send photos of American schools, American students. I will do that with the theme of highlighting the activities of our Service Council throughout the school year. The accompanying photos and narrative will show student run Food Drive, monthly recycling and other service projects along with school photos. I am working on obtaining permission from staff and parents to highlight one or two students on the Service Council, who might even allow me to photograph them doing other activities – to give Russians a view of American life. This can be put into a PowerPoint for use in Vladimir or Murom. (*Our school mascot is the Roadrunner – thus the name of the Service Council!) I will also tie this in to our district-wide Advisory Program. This program was started after the Columbine Shooting to address bullying and other issues that can arise in schools. We teach what we call the Pillars of Character. The activities of the Roadrunner Service Council directly correlate to the Pillars of Responsibility, Caring, and Citizenship. VII. 3rd Annual F.O.N.L. (Friends of Northside Libraries) StoryFest (Elementary students) I am submitting a proposal to present at the 3rd Annual StoryFest on January 24, 2009. I would be in Russian folk costume, presenting a classic Russian Fairy Tale or Folk Tale with accompanying puppets, activity, music. VIII. Facul-Tea! (Northwest Vista College faculty) November 20, 2008, during International Education Week, Northwest Vista College will host – and I have RSVPed to participate in – a Facul-Tea! in Redbud Café on campus. I am an adjunct librarian at this college. This is an opportunity for faculty who have studied and/or taught abroad to share their experience and insight with other faculty. IX. Academy for Lifelong Learning (Northwest Vista College presentation) On a Friday in January 2009 (we’re still finalizing the date) I will be presenting to A.L.L., a very active outreach group on our campus of individuals who are 50+ yrs old. I will present a PowerPoint with photos and anecdotal information on our Fulbright trip to Russia, with some fun activities. We have Internet access in our meeting space, so I will be tying this in with some of our college databases for more information on Russia + suggested books. One of our history professors made a presentation to this group this semester on Russian history and they are new eager for present-day insight into Russia.