In-school Residencies
Circus Around the World
The Circus Around the World provides the ultimate project-based learning experience for elementary school children. Each class chooses one country and one circus art (i.e. tumbling, juggling, clowning, partner acrobatics, or balance). Students investigate the culture, history, cuisine, language and geography of the countries. The learning spans the entire curriculum including math problems focusing on sequencing, spatial relations and timing. A collaborative approach is used that incorporates music, mask-making and art projects. The theme extends into all the curricular activities of the day and reflects back into the upcoming circus show.
It is possible to involve the entire school in this residency. We encourage, but don’t require, teachers, administrators and school support staff to collaborate on the acts. We bring all the circus equipment needed except tumbling mats and a sound system. We need a dedicated, large, open space for teaching. CAW comes with its own lending library. We like to see each class for one period every day, if possible. The schedule will shift on the first and last days of the residency. Shows can be in the day or evening.
The residency ends with a final performance that is exuberantly joyous and does what all learning should do: give students a context and structure for their study. The Circus Around the World makes their studies relevant, tangible and exciting.
Time Machine Circus
The Time Machine Circus is an interdisciplinary curricular experience for elementary school children Grades 2-6. Classes choose one decade in American history and one circus art (i.e. tumbling, juggling, clowning, partner acrobatics, balancing, etc.). The students investigate history for broad social trends and historical facts and then create an entire circus that integrates their knowledge and research. The learning spans the entire curriculum as we study culture, history and geography in social studies. There are math problems to be solved that include sequencing, spatial relations and timing.
The Circus Minimus library is available on a lending basis and the students can study circus literature and videotapes from around the world. There are collaborative art projects and mask making in fine arts. Music from those decades are learned and incorporated into the show.
The residency ends with a final performance that is joyous and collaborative. The Time Machine Circus makes their study, relevant, tangible and exciting.
CircusYoga
CircusYoga blends the practice of yoga with the skills of circus. Through this two-week interdisciplinary residency K-8 students will explore kinesiology, creativity and connection.
Yoga is an ancient science that teaches us how to be aware of our bodies in action. Circus is a culture of inclusion and celebration that teaches us how remarkable we can be in our bodies.
We will begin by exploring our anatomy and physiology as it relates to a particular skill. We will learn how the whole body and the focus of the mind contribute to our movement, choices, and abilities in any activity. CircusYoga offers a cooperative learning environment. Students are met where they are, and are encouraged to lead with their curiosity. Through this exploration each class will co-create a performance act. Some schools opt to offer a full-circle learning experience where kids teach their parents what they’ve learned in a family workshop. And some parents even choose to join us in the classroom everyday as life-long learners. The culminating experience is an hour-long CircusYoga Celebration open to the whole school community!
CircusYoga Studies: Yoga Flow, Partner Acrobatics, Equilibristics (Balancing on objects…), Partner Yoga, Juggling, Manipulations (Diabolo, Plates, Poi…), and Human Pyramids
Anatomy Studies: The Respiratory System, The Muscular System, The Fluid System, The Digestive System, The Nervous System, The Sensory System, and The Skeletal System
Animals and Insects
In an Animals and Insects residency each class chooses an environment to immerse their studies in. From that location animals and insects are chosen and studied, then embodied. Each class then uses circus skills to further immerse themselves into then environment. A collaborative approach is used to bring out the imagination and gift of every child. quote
“My favorite thing about Animals and Insects Circus was watching my students and the organic nature of creating the circus based on what the kids bring to you as opposed to a preconceived plan/performance... this is empowering our kids!”
-Michelle Mazzitelli, Hewlet- Woodmere NY
Erin Maile’s Human Connection Project
In-School Residencies
Waterways
During the springs of 2022-2024, Erin Maile O’Keefe along with other Vermont teaching artists spent weeks at Academy and Green St. Schools with 4th and 6th graders studying the Whetstone Brook. Focusing on indigenous and scientific ways of learning students down into curricula. Together we made maps, baskets, posters and land acknowledgments, telling the “Stories of the Land.” On the final day we invited the school and community members to our Water Way(s) Expo to share our learnings and embodied art.
Learn more at humanconnectionproject.com/water-ways
