A Whole Body Learning Experience

This spring was the 3rd year for 4rth graders to create kamishibai at Deerfield Valley Elementary School in Wilmington VT.
The production of the finished product is a process that that elicits physical participation by the students.
Preparing the covers, and assembling the text with the images, often works best on the floor.  Kneeling on the floor while painting and folding, students help to create a new way to experience their classroom as a learning environment.

 
 

 







 

 

These photos show students concentrating and involved in their work.  The physical acts of crossing midline and weight-bearing with their arms helps to organize (and energize!) the students' thinking.  Utilizing mind-body pathways and reorienting how to physically use the classroom space for learning projects (because not all school learning needs to be in desks and chairs) are important benefits of creating kamishibai.