Connecticut Foliage Drive 2018

Now that the trees are bare, the temps are dropping, and the holiday season is in full swing, I thought it would be nice to take one final look back at fall - My favorite time of year!

When you see color like this, it's time to hop in the car and go for a drive!

We drove over to the Connecticut River and took in the views near the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, CT

Connecticut River, looking towards Haddam, CT

Haddam, CT north of the bridge

East Haddam Bridge, Connecticut River

Picnic benches at Andrew's Marina, Haddam, CT

East Haddam Bridge, Connecticut River

Haddam State Park, CT

Goodspeed Opera House on Connecticut River

Time to take a short hike up along the waterfalls in Haddam, CT

Foliage views near top of the falls

Nearing home, but sometimes you just have to stop the car and take a photo!

Oxoboxo Lake, Oakdale, CT

Back where we began

Sometimes the best foliage views are in your own back yard!

A blue sky like this means crisp, cool Fall air!

Late in the day, but who wants to go in?

Besides, the sunlight is still hitting the tree tops!

See books by Laura S. Pringle on Amazon  

The Pringle Plan is a series of educational guides. 

 ©2018 Laura S. Pringle. All Rights Reserved.

Slater Memorial Museum Tour

Slater Memorial Museum. Norwich, Connecticut.

   On a recent field trip to the Slater Memorial Museum, with a group from Adventures in Lifelong Learning, I enjoyed a tour of a museum I have visited many times. Located on the campus of Norwich Free Academy, many locals don't realize the museum is open to the public. It is a wonderful resource for the school, but not at all limited to the students. Free parking is available on campus, as well as on local streets. For a small fee, anyone can view famous works of art from around the world!

Philanthropist and Slater Memorial Museum founder William Albert Slater

John Fox Slater, father of William Albert Slater

   The Slater Museum was built and donated to the Norwich Free Academy by William Albert Slater in memory of his father, John Fox Slater. William was a world traveler who believed in using his wealth  to expose  students and the community to the cultures and aesthetics he learned about in his travels. Over the years, the museum’s holdings have grown to include  five continents worth of fine and decorative art, historical artifacts and ethnographic material spanning 35 centuries. Of particular  importance are the plaster casts of ancient Greek and Roman statues. No longer allowed, plaster casting of ancient treasures was once permitted as a way to provide wider access to these ancient cultures. 

   When visiting the museum, remember that photos are permitted in the galleries, just avoid use  of flash when taking photos of paintings. Here is a sampling of the types of works you will see. 

Tomb of Lorenzo De Medici, Duke of Urbino (Plaster casts, Slater Memorial Museum, Norwich, CT) 

King Arthur (plaster cast - Slater Memorial Museum, Norwich, CT)

Pieta (Plaster cast  - Slater Memorial Museum. Original is in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Rome, by Michelangelo)

The Nike (Victory) of Samothrace (plaster cast - Slater Memorial Museum. Original in the Louvre circa 250-150 BCE) Viewed from gallery above.

The Nike (Victory) of Samothrace (plaster cast - Slater Memorial Museum. Original in the Louvre circa 250-150 BCE)

Moses (plaster cast - Slater Memorial Museum, Norwich, CT.  (Original in Church of San Pietro, Vincoli, Rome. Michelangelo, 16th century)

Scale model of Western Pediment of the Temple of Zeus at Olympia

Plaster casts of Figures from the Western Pediment of the Temple of Zeus at Olympia - Slater Memorial Museum, Norwich, CT (Originals in the Olympia Museum, Greece. Marble. ca 465-457 BCE)

Sophocles - Plaster cast, Slater Memorial Museum, Norwich, CT (Original - a Roman copy of Greek bronze, marble is in the Vatican Museum, Rome. ca.340 BCE)

He Otricoli Zeus - Plaster cast. Slater Memorial Museum, Norwich, CT. (Original is a Roman copy of a Greek original in the Vatican Museum, Rome. Marble. 4th century BCE)

Amenhotep III, The Magnificent - Plaster Cast. Slater Memorial Museum, Norwich, CT. (Original is from an Egyptian mortuary temple at Thebes (Luxor, Egypt), now in the British Museum, London. ca. 1350 BCE)

   Items behind glass tend to come out blurry due to reflections, but I still thought it was worth showing a few items from the Egyptian collection.

Reproduction of a Scene from the Book of the Dead, Hunefer. Polychrome, papyrus. Egypt, c. 1290 BCE.

Next up, the African collection.

These are both easy-to-carry stools. African. Slater Memorial Museum, Norwich, CT.

Ceremonial masks. African. Slater Memorial Museum, Norwich, CT.

   On the day I was there, the changing exhibition area was filled with works by and about Norwich native Ellis W. Ruley. Ruley's preferred medium? - Oil-based house paint! The exhibit is on view September 23, 2018 – December 7, 2018.

Daydreaming (Landscape with Lions). Ellis Walter Ruley (1882-1959) c. 1950. Permanent collection of the Slater Memorial Museum.

Grapefruit Picking Time. Ellis Walter Ruley (1882-1959) c. 1950. Collection of Amistad Center for Art and Culture.

Jesse James and His Wife. Ellis Walter Ruley (1882-1959) c. 1950. Collection of Josh Feldstein.

Ellis Walter Ruley. Glenn Palmedo-Smith (1952-    ) Cast Bronze. 1996. Permanent Collection of the Slater Memorial Museum.

See books by Laura S. Pringle on Amazon

 The Pringle Plan is a series of educational guides. 

 ©2018 Laura S. Pringle. All Rights Reserved.

Following Directions Rhyme Activities

Royalty free photos from Pexel.com

  Once children begin school they will find many adults expecting them to follow directions. It's an important skill for safety, classroom management, understanding rules, and being able to follow through on a lesson. Learning to follow directions begins at home. Think of your child as your student. Learning to follow directions can be a fun, enjoyable process when approached with consistency and pre-planned activities. The following article is an excerpt from my book, The Pringle Plan For Following Directions, where you will find many more tips and activities.

Rhyme Activities  

    Each activity page tells what the teacher should say and instruct.  Unless otherwise noted, all activities are designed to be done while standing in place.  The words in italics explain how to demonstrate the directions. At times you may need to explain what you are doing, as you demonstrate.  Students will be using their imaginations while acting out the directions. You will find you need to explain less, and less with each repetition of an activity. How many times you repeat an activity, depends on how quickly your students learn to follow your directions.  Ultimately, you want your students to be able to follow your directions without the demonstration. Remember that many children need a lot of repetition, before they fully comprehend what it is you want them to do.  You may need to take time to explain vocabulary, as well as point out subtle differences in vocabulary such as the difference between toss and throw. Some students may at first be confused by the nonsense words, however once you explain that they don’t mean anything, they will have fun identifying nonsense words vs. real words. For students still developing their articulation skills, you may want to emphasize either the beginning or ending sounds. Your demonstration of the directions will be especially helpful to visual learners. Using a positive tone, with a pleasant facial expression will motivate students to participate in these engaging activities. 

Beginner Level – Best for Pre-K and Early Kindergarten

   The following two activities are from the first section of my book where you will find fifteen Following Directions Rhyme Activities appropriate for Pre-K students, as well as kindergartners who are going to school for the first time, or are just coming back after having the summer off.   

ACTION

   Students will first repeat the word you have instructed them to say. Then they will listen to your instruction and watch you demonstrate the action before performing the action themselves.   All actions are done while standing in place. Demonstrate while instructing, until students can follow with just the verbal instruction.

Say band. Now stand. (feet together, hands at sides)

Say rise. Now exercise. (jumping jacks)

Say fun. Now run. (run in place)

Say talk. Now walk. (walk in place)

Say parch. Now march. (march in place)

Say tip. Now skip. (skip in place)

Say top. Now hop. (small hop, in place)

Say bump. Now jump. (jump higher)

Say Vick. Now kick. (like you’re kicking a kickball)

Say boss. Now toss. (pretend to toss ball underhanded)

Say low. Now throw. (pretend to throw ball overhanded)

Say burn. Now turn. (spin whole body all the way around one time)

Say fling. Now swing. (one step forward and back, swinging arms in same direction)

Say bay. Now sway. (one step to side and back, swinging arms in same direction)

Say guide. Now ride. (squat like your sitting in a car, bounce lightly)

Say buy. Now fly. (arms spread to sides, sway upper body)

Say prance. Now dance. (freestyle in place)

Say fir. Now stir. (pretend to hold bowl in one arm and stir with other hand)

Say door. Now pour. (pretend to hold bowl and pour into baking dish)

Say make. Now bake. (pretend to slide baking dish into oven)

Say beat. Now eat. (pretend to bite into brownie and chew)

Say brink. Now drink. (pretend to drink glass of water)

Say book. Now look. (hold hands around eyes like binoculars)

Say glisten. Now listen. (cup ear with hand)

Say baste. Now taste. (pretend to lick finger)

Say bell. Now smell. (cup hand under nose and sniff)

Say such. Now touch. (hold one hand, back side up, and touch with opposite index finger)

Say wrist. Now twist. (bend arms at waist and twist upper body side to side)

Say bush. Now push. (one foot forward, hold hands in front and pretend to push a car)

Say full. Now pull. (one foot back, pretend to hold rope and pull)

Say pit. Now sit. (in chair, on floor, or in next activity area, depending on the daily routine you want to teach)

ART

 All actions are done while standing in place. Demonstrate while instructing, until students can follow with just the verbal instruction.

Say hand. Now please stand. (feet together, hands at sides)

Say free-ative. Let’s be creative. (nod yes)

Say vapor. Now get a piece of paper. (pretend to reach for paper and set in front of you)

Say wencil. Now draw with a pencil. (pretend to draw)

Say ner-aser. Sometimes you need an eraser. (pretend to erase)

Say voice. Now make a choice. (while students stand in place, walk around pretending to hold out crayons for students to point to and choose)

Say nayon. Now color with a crayon. (continue to act out)

Say ricture. What a beautiful picture. (nod and smile)

Say leazel. Put some paper on the easel. (continue to act out)

Say prush. Pick up a brush.

Say taint. Use it to paint.

Say gaintings. I always like your paintings. (nod and smile)

Say straw-ject. Let’s make a craft project. (nod yes)

Say selections. Now listen and follow directions. (fold hands to show ready, eyes on teacher)

Say dizzors.  Now cut with scissors. (hold out two fingers, make cutting motion)

Say blue. Hold together with glue. (act out according to the type and amount of glue you teach your students to use)

Say care. Be kind and share. (pretend to hand something to neighbor)

Say day. Let’s make something with clay. (nod yes)

Say bit. Roll it, cut it, sculpt it. (act out)

Say wit. Flatten it, stamp it, pinch it.

Say muh-zine. It’s fun to make your own design. (hold arms over head in victory stance)

Say tup. Now clean up. (pretend to pick up, wipe, and sweep)

Say zelf. Now compliment yourself. (pat self on back)

Say frown. Now please sit down. (in chair, on floor, or in next activity area, depending on the daily routine you want to teach)

The Pringle Plan For Following Directions, Laura S. Pringle

More books by Laura S. Pringle on Amazon

 The Pringle Plan is a series of educational guides.

 ©2018 Laura S. Pringle. All Rights Reserved.

Highlights Tour of the Wadsworth Atheneum

Morgan Great Hall - Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, CT

   We had a great time at the Wadsworth Atheneum Sunday. I did something I  hadn't done in many years - went on a docent lead tour of the  Museum Highlights. In a museum this size, it must be difficult to narrow the choices down to just a few that can be fit into an hour of walking and discussion, but our docent did a phenomenal job! He zeroed in on a few paintings of women, or that included women, but also included Connecticut artists and contemporary artists. Here are few of the paintings we saw.

Self-Portrait as a Lute Player, Artemisia Gentileschi, Collection of the Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, CT

   First up was this self-portrait painted by a female artist of the 17th century, Artemisia Gentileschi. What a coincidence! I have a postcard of this painting hanging in my computer armoir. I look at it daily and draw strength from her determination to support herself independently in an era when women artists were frowned on by the salons. Quite a few years ago, I read an historical fiction, The Passion of Artemisia, by Susan Vreeland. I find her story of rape by a mentor, in a blame-the-victim culture and era of the subjugation of women, to be more and more relevant with each passing day. The burden of proof was on Artemisia then as it often is today. My hope is for today's #MeToo Movement to change this injustice once and for all. Look into Artemisia's face and feel the sad emotion behind her gaze.

Designed by Connecticut Artist Sol LeWitt, this swirling band of color tops the elegant Morgan Building Stairwell

   Next, we changed gears. Walking into the Morgan Building stairwell we were greeted by joyous pops of color, curved to echo the marble arches, and serving as a counter balance to the elegant but pale marble paneling and stairwell. This Sol LeWitt designed painting demonstrates the Wadsworth's commitment to represent Connecticut artists, as well as contemporary era art.

The Lawrence Tree, Georgia O'Keefe, Collection of Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, CT

   Back to women artists - this Georgia O'Keefe takes some observation to understand. What is it? Think for a moment. Do you see the night sky? How about the shadow of tree top leaves? Now do you see the tree trunk leading to the branches? Where are you - the viewer? I picture myself lying down on a blanket under the tree, on a warm end-of-summer night. Staring up at the night sky, I'm dreaming of far away places...

Toks Adewetan (The King of Glory), 2016, Kehinde Wiley,  Wadsworth Atheneum Museum

   I fell in love with this contemporary portrait by Kehinde Wiley. Wiley is known for approaching strangers and asking to paint their portrait. He gets to know them, and has his sitters choose an historic portrait they would like to see themselves in. Toks Adewetan chose a 14th century Russian painting of Christ. He did not adopt the exact pose of Christ in that painting, instead letting his own personality shine through. Wiley painted the portrait in a photo realistic style, later adding background and foreground that replicates William Morris designed wallpaper. The result is a colorful interweaving of design, person-hood, and history, that is filled with religious symbolism. Christianity is seen in the pomegranates which represent Christ, the drips of red fruit are Christ's sorrow and blood, the seeds are symbols of resurrection, and the thorny branches Christ's crown of thorns. Other religions are symbolized as well. Adewetan wears around his neck both an Ankh (Egyptian symbol of life), and a green Buddha (environmentalism and Buddhism).

President Barack Obama, Kahinde Wiley, National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C.

   Another portrait, by Wiley, you may be familiar with is President Barack Obama. This one is not at the Wadsworth, but I've included it for comparison. Here Obama is seated in the current day's political concept of making leaders appear approachable, on the same level as the viewer - an every man. The background is not a wallpaper design, but living greenery and flowers highlighting Obama's personal and ancestral past—blue lilies for Kenya (his father's homeland); jasmine for Hawaii (his childhood home); and chrysanthemums for Chicago (his current home). For me the painting as a whole symbolizes the past (ancestry and childhood), the present (he has recently retired from the presidency), and the future (his return to Chicago and contemplation over how he will spend his time in retirement). I also see the living greenery as showing both his deep roots and connections to family and community, as well as his relative youth at retirement. He is not finished, but very much alive, continuing to grow, and preparing to add to his vibrant legacy. I'd love to know more about the choice of the chair, as I'm sure it also carries great meaning.

Young Lady with the Shiner, Norman Rockwell, Collection of Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, CT

  After our tour, we lunched at the museum's restaurant, The Untitled Bistro. Great service and great food fueled us enough to meander through the museum unguided. All three of us were drawn to this Norman Rockwell painting. We saw pride in the young girl's face as she stood up for herself and gave as good as she got. We were amused by the 1950's era school staff who clearly didn't know what to do with this child. A boy probably would have received a paddling, but a girl? in a fight? A passing docent shared with us that when she takes young children on tours, the students bring up the serious subject of bullying. None of us saw that - What a difference a generation (or 2) makes!

Self-Portrait, Thomas Sully, Collection of Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, CT

   Last, we found ourselves intrigued by this self-portrait of Thomas Sully. Half-hidden in shadow, he seems almost ashamed to show himself. Learning to paint from his older brother and a brother-in-law, as well as renowned portrait artist Gilbert Stuart, we wondered if at age 24 he felt over-shadowed by their status. He needn't have worried, as he went on to paint the likes of Thomas Jefferson and Queen Victoria. Sully's portraits hang in many museums around the world.

One final note - Before you head off to a museum, check your local library for free passes! Donna found one that admitted two for free. We split the cost for the third ticket, making admission a very affordable $4! Enjoy!

See books by Laura S. Pringle on Amazon

 The Pringle Plan is a series of educational guides. 

 ©2018 Laura S. Pringle. All Rights Reserved.