Janice Leigh
Windsor School District, Windsor, VT
Romancing The Mani Stone: An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Art and
Culture of the Himalayas
Focusing on Tibet
Through
the Arts, I strive to provide my students with a multi-sensory and motivational
means to access the beauty of the world at large, and in turn, develop
an appreciation for their own unique talents and contributions.
Through the lense of Himalayan and Tibetan cultures, students will improve their artistic proficiency while broadening their concepts of culture, identity and interdependence, in addition to geographical knowledge and historical awareness, in accordance with the 'Vermont Frameworks and Standards'.
The intent of this publication is to provide a basis for active student learning and ongoing collaboration with other faculty members, in an easily accessible manner which relates to other disciplines. I have organized a variety of ideas, lesson plans and projects which I will be developing with student input and feedback from the school community, initially focusing on the elementary grades, K-6, with future revisions appropriate for the secondary level. The scope of this project is large and 'The Great Perfection' is a long way off, however, the journey across the Himalayas begins with a single step...
Unfortunately, love and compassion have been omitted from too many spheres of social interaction for too long. Usually confined to family and home, their practice in public is considered impractical, even naïve. This is tragic.- H.H. Dalai Lama
'Tashi Delek' ('Good Luck'-Traditional Tibetan Greeting)
In order to create an environment with a cultural influence of Tibet, I welcome each student into my classroom by presenting them with a white silk scarf, which is placed around their neck as I greet them. The singing bowl signals the beginning and ending of each session. My intention is to create the sense of a global community and to foster connections to their local community.
This site was created by Janice Leigh at the NEH Summer Institute "Cultures and Religions of the Himalayan Region," held at the College of the Holy Cross, Summer 2004