Clemmons Family Farm releases video series for arts-integrated African-American curriculum

The Clemmons Family Farm is releasing Joy in Motion!, a free tutorial video series for teachers.

The videos feature Vermont grade school teachers and Clemmons Family Farm teaching artists explaining how they use Joy in Motion! in the classroom.

Joy in Motion! is part of the nonprofit farm’s Windows to a Multicultural World, an arts-integrated African-American history and culture curriculum for kindergarten-twelfth grades.

The program includes online downloadable handouts for teachers and students, live and pre-recorded teaching artist engagements and field trips to the historic Clemmons farm in Charlotte. A series of 10-20 minute tutorial videos gives teachers lesson plans with tips on how to incorporate the curriculum in their classrooms.

“Clemmons Family Farm has produced a tremendous resource for teachers,” said Clemmons Family Farm board member Steven Berbeco. “Windows to a Multicultural World fits into the important work that our grade schools are doing every day, prompting students to learn important and meaningful lessons about multiculturalism.”

Vermont grade school teachers Nari Penson, Sarah Kitchen and Carly Bennett star in the videos and speak about their experiences working with the curriculum. The videos also feature Clemmons Family Farm teaching artists Kya Jackson (visual artist), KeruBo Webster (singer-songwriter), Izzy Grae (theater and movement artist), and Alex Aya Sapphire (spoken word and hip hop artist).

This curriculum teaches students important skills for resilience, resistance and healing, especially the ability to find and experience joy in the ups and downs of life, said arts learning director Kia’Rae Hanron.

The development of the Joy in Motion! tutorial video series is a collaboration between Clemmons Family Farm and Vermont Public made possible in part through grants from the Bay and Paul Foundation and the Jane B. Cook Trust.

“Vermont Public is so pleased to support the making of these videos,” said Scott Finn, president and CEO of Vermont Public. “Clemmons Family Farm has accomplished an outstanding quality of video production and educational content that will help educators in Vermont and beyond introduce their students to a wider world.”

The tutorial videos are available for viewing on the Clemmons Family Farm website at tinyurl.com/yc38b4r3.