phillcristofaro

Listen to the NAES kids and their thoughts on the video conference between Nathaniel Alexander Elementary School and Brunswick East Primary kids.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [10:38m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (120)

Listen to the BEPS kids relect on the BEPSUS video conference…

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [10:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (121)

On Wednesday 6th June the BEPS and NAES students culminated the BEPSUS project by coming together in the form of a video conference (courtesy of IBM).

The kids were fantastic and absolutely loved the experience. We had our final Philosophy session where we posed the “big question”: What does it mean to be American / Australian?

The kids shared similarities and differences about our collective culture and history. We even had a virtual handshake between two of the girls who had been blogging with each other.

Listen to the BEPS kids sing their own version of the Dobe Newton and Bruce Woodley song, “I am Australian”. It’s called, “I am Ameralian”.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [4:12m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (120)

Welcome to the BEPSUS Project: the newest instalment of an ongoing relationship between Brunswick East Primary School (Melbourne, Australia) and Nathaniel Alexander Elementary School (Charlotte, North Carolina, USA).

“BEPSUS” is an acronym for “Brunswick East Philosophy Studies with the US” and involves grade 3 and 4 students from each of the schools taking part in an online philosophy project that explores the following open-ended question:

What does it mean to be an Australian / American?

The students will be able to listen-in to podcasts from each school as it explores aspects of the over-arching question. They will communicate their thoughts and project work on an electronic bulletin board attached to the project website.

You can find the project website here.

The following podcast is Phill Cristofaro’s class discussing the relevance of Australia’s national anthem. In the meantime, sit back and enjoy listening to our students develop their collaboration and thinking skills…

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [48:18m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (150)

Listen to Phill’s class contemplate whether ANZAC Day is a celebration or a commemoration…

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [14:48m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (47)

Listen to Marcie Beard’s class discuss the American civil war in their first Philosophy podcast…

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [7:49m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (177)

Listen to the Nathaniel Alexander Elementary students sing the Woody Guthrie song, “This Land is Your Land”…

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [2:16m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (220)

Listen to the grade 3 / 4 BEPS students sing “I am Australian” (written by Bruce Woodley and Dobe Newton). The students used this uniquely Australian song as the focus of some Philosophy discussions…

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [4:20m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (226)

Listen in to Tony and his class philosophise about the importance of Memorial Day in the US.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [48:18m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (117)

Tony Iannone’s grade 4 class discusses the relevance of the American national anthem.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [27:26m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (117)