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Froebel Summer Workshop

Presented by The Froebel Foundation USA
July 25 - 27, 2002

Thursday, July 25, 2002-Amway Grand Hotel Senator Vandenberg Room

8:00 am to 9:00 am: Registration

9:00 am to 10:00 am: Keynote: The History of Kindergarten

Presenter: Scott W. Bultman, Director The Froebel Foundation USA

This session will provide an overview of the history of the Kindergarten from 1830 to 1930.

10:00 am to 10:15 am: Break

10:15 am to 11:00 am: Gift Play Demonstration
Presenters: Finella Scholtz, Wendy Hart, and Cameron Dalgleish
The Froebel School, Ontario, Canada

This session will acquaint participants with the methodology of Froebel's Gift play. Participants will observe experienced Froebel teachers as they work with preschool through elementary students from the local community. (Over the course of the three days, forms of life, beauty and knowledge will be demonstrated.)

11:00 - 11:30am: Question & Answer - Discussion

Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions of the Froebelian teachers and engage in discussion around the fundamental ideas of Froebel's Gift play­the materials of the kindergarten. Participants will learn through both observation and later, first hand, how the Gifts impact learning.

11:30 am to 12:00 noon: Adult Interactive Gift Play
Presenters: Finella Scholtz, Wendy Hart, and Cameron Dalgleish
The Froebel School, Ontario, Canada

Participants will engage in experiential hands-on play with the Froebel Gifts in order to gain an understanding of the use of block play and the ìforms,î and the creativeness inherent in all human beings, child or adult.

12:00 noon to 1:30 pm: Lunch-Senator Vandenberg Room

A luncheon will be provided for workshop participants at the Amway Grand Hotel.

1:30 pm to 2:45 pm: "Learning from Scratch"
Presenters: Betsey Hamm, Founder
Learning From Scratch
Julie Bennett, Early Childhood Teacher,
Rockford Public Schools

Betsey and Julie will demonstrate how to use ordinary everyday and "throw away" items for creative and Froebelian projects.

2:45 - 3:00 Break

3:00 pm to 4:00 pm: Grand Rapids Art Museum Tour
Host: Scott Bultman
The Froebel Foundation USA

Participants will have an opportunity to view items from the Froebel Foundation USA archive and tour the Children's Froebel Area installation.

4:00 pm to 4:45 pm: Reception: Children's Museum
11 Sheldon NE Grand Rapids
Host: Therese Thome'

See Grand Rapid's innovative place for children! Discussion will center around the collaborative model being developed between The Children's Museum and The Froebel Foundation USA to provide learning for parents, educators and children.

5:00 pm to 7:00 pm: Tour of Meyer May House
450 Madison SE Grand Rapids

A private showing of the Meyer May House which was commissioned in 1908 by a prominent Grand Rapids clothier; designed by America's most famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, and restored to its original concept by Steelcase, Inc. in 1987. Frank Lloyd Wright was schooled in the Froebelian method and has remarked:"I can still feel the blocks in my fingers today."

Friday, July 26, 2002 - Frederik Meijer Gardens

8:30 am: Shuttle to Frederik Meijer Gardens
3411 Bradford NE Grand Rapids
Michigan Botanic Gardens and Sculpture Park

Participants desiring a shuttle to the Gardens should meet in the lobby of the Amway Grand Hotel between 8:00 and 8:30 am.

Registration will be at the Frederik Meijer Gardens

9:00 am to 10:00 am: Keynote: Froebel Education Today
Presenter: Scott W. Bultman, Director
The Froebel Foundation USA

This session will focus on Froebel institutions around the world today and the current activities of the Froebel Foundation USA. Participants will gain an understanding of the components of a true Froebel School.

10:00 am to 10:15 am: Break

10:15 am to 11:15 am: Gift Play Demonstration
Presenters: Finella Scholtz, Wendy Hart, and Cameron Dalgleish
The Froebel School, Ontario, Canada

This session will acquaint participants with the methodology of Froebel's Gift play. Participants will observe experienced Froebel teachers as they work with preschool through elementary students from the local community. (Over the course of the three days, forms of life, beauty and knowledge will be demonstrated.)

11:15 am to 11:30 am: Question & Answer - Discussion

Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions of the Froebelian teachers and engage in discussion around the fundamental ideas of Froebel's Gift playóthe materials of the kindergarten. Participants will learn through both observation and later, first hand, how the Gifts impact learning.

11:30 am to 12:00 noon: Adult Interactive Gift Play
Presenters: Finella Scholtz, Wendy Hart, and Cameron Dalgleish
The Froebel School, Ontario, Canada

Participants will engage in experiential hands-on play with the Froebel Gifts in order to gain an understanding of the use of block play and the "forms," and the creativeness inherent in all human beings, child or adult.

12:00 noon to 1:30 pm: Lunch

A luncheon will be provided for workshop participants at The Frederik Meijer Botanic Gardens & Sculpture Park.

1:30 pm to 3:00 pm: Geometric Paper Folding
Presenter: Brad Hansen-Smith,
Author Geometry of Wholemovement

Mr. Hansen-Smith will demonstrate his Wholemovement approach to teaching geometry through paper folding. Friedrich Froebel has been recognized for developing this concept of paper folding.

3:00 pm to 5:00 pm: Children's Gardening
Presenter: Dr. Norman Lownds,
Director of Gardens, Michigan State University

Dr. Lownds will speak on the importance of school gardens and children's gardening in education and will detail the objectives and implementation of school gardens.

5:15 pm to 6:00 pm: Shuttle back to the Amway Grand Hotel

Saturday, July 27, 2002 - Amway Grand Hotel Senator Vandenberg Room

8:00 am to 9:00 am: Registration-Vandenberg Room

9:00 am to 10:00 am: Keynote: The Future of Froebel
Presenter: Scott W. Bultman, Director
The Froebel Foundation USA

This session will provide a vision for the future of Froebel education.

10:00 am to 10:15 am: Break

10:15 am to 12:00 am: Morning Circle
Presenters: Finella Scholtz, Wendy Hart, and Cameron Dalgleish
The Froebel School, Ontario, Canada

This session will acquaint participants with Froebel's "Morning Circle."

Gift Play Demonstration
Presenters: Finella Scholtz, Wendy Hart, and Cameron Dalgleish The Froebel School, Ontario, Canada

Question & Answer - Discussion

Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions of the Froebelian teachers and engage in discussion around the fundamental ideas of Froebel's Gift play and educational philosophy.

Adult Interactive Gift Play
Presenters: Finella Scholtz, Wendy Hart, and Cameron Dalgleish
The Froebel School, Ontario, Canada

Participants will engage in experiential hands-on play with the Froebel Gifts in order to gain an understanding of the use of block play and the "forms," and the creativeness inherent in all human beings, child or adult.

12:00 noon to 1:30 pm: Lunch - Senator Vandenberg Room

A luncheon will be provided for workshop participants at the Amway Grand Hotel.

1:30 pm to 3:00 pm: Movement Time
Presenter: Rob Reider
Mime and Tai Chi Instructor

Participants will learn to assess creative potential through movement and play as related to Froebel's own outdoor games and movement exercises.

3:00 pm: Open Forum Discussion

This will be an opportunity for sharing ideas and plans for the future and for networking with other Froebelians. Learn how you can get involved in upcoming projects.

The Froebel Foundation USA wishes to thank all presenters, board members, participants and guests for their interest and commitment to Froebel education. It is the mission of The Froebel Foundation USA to promote the educational ideas of Friedrich Froebel to the world at large and to preserve the history of the Froebel Kindergarten.





© 2001 Froebel Foundation USA 407 Richmond NW Grand Rapids, MI 49504 888-774-2046