Embark on an enlightening voyage through the expressive world of educational performance art with the incredible mime and teaching artist, Jef Lambdin. His captivating tale begins in a mime troupe and unfolds into a nationwide journey, blending his artistry with academic learning standards. As Jef regales us with experiences from his Lincoln Center training, we discover the transformative power of starting with art (the A in STEAM education) to foster deep educational experiences. By integrating performance into English language arts, physical education, and science, he illustrates the profound influence that the arts can wield in shaping student understanding.

Jef and I explore our creative takes on professional development for educators, focusing on strategies and ideas for merging multicultural literature with STEM and STEAM activities. Professional development for teachers and student enrichment programs should be FUN, not boring, and we both subscribe to the belief that we learn best through play. Join the conversation as we explore strategies for cross-curricular engagement and equip educators with innovative ideas to revitalize their classrooms. From embodying scientific concepts to acting out diverse stories, we explore techniques that activate student participation and learning. Discover how mimicking animal movements or diving into ecosystems through play can add an entirely new dimension to subjects traditionally viewed as rigid and academic.

Finally, we turn the pages on how multicultural picture books can support social-emotional learning and executive function, as well as enhance communication and writing skills. We delve into the art of empathy, sharing how students can learn to walk in someone else's shoes through sensitive reenactments and collaborative projects. 

For those inspired by this episode, I invite you to visit drdianadventures.com for full show notes and to discover additional resources that can bring this artistic alchemy into your own educational space.

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