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My Disney Class podcast

Howie and Ryan visit with teachers, educators and administrators on how to integrate Disney ideals of creativity, innovation, communication, critical thinking, STEM and MakerSpace into classrooms. Twice a month they share why they are passionate about Disney and how their passions has brought them together in this joint mission to help bring ideas for innovation, storytelling, creativity, and the principal foundations of what makes Disney and great choice for projects and resources in the K-12 Classroom. They also talk about the companion website (www.mydisneyclass.com) that will spotlight incredible educators from around the globe and be packed with resources that teachers can use in their classrooms.
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Now displaying: September, 2018
Sep 30, 2018

Playing Like a Toy in Toy Story Land

 

On today’s show, Ryan and Howie discuss the new land down at Hollywood Studios called Toy Story Land.  This new 11-acre land will transport guests into the adventurous outdoors of Andy’s backyard. Guests will think they’ve been shrunk to the size of Woody and Buzz as they are surrounded by oversized toys that Andy has assembled using his vivid imagination. Using toys like building blocks, plastic buckets and shovels, and game board pieces, Andy has designed the perfect setting for this land.  This area has three main attractions, Toy Story Mania which already existed and two brand new attractions, Slinky Dog Dash and Spinning Alien Saucers.

Listen as Ryan explains his experience and walks you through a personal tour of the land.  We will look at each attraction and even discuss the surroundings as well as the hidden easter eggs that are littered all throughout this land.  We will also discuss how this land celebrates imagination, creativity, and making but even more so how it celebrates the unlimited genius of the child and how play can let them explore that.  With that being said, we can definitely see how classroom teachers and staff can be inspired by playing like a toy!

 

Sep 15, 2018

Ryan and Howie welcome the wonderful and magical Maria Esterline!  Maria describes herself as a simple educator that is passionate about creating learning experiences that prepare students for the real world. Her mission in life has been to be the change you wish to see in the world. She believes the change has to start with her and that’s exactly how she lives her life daily.  If you have ever met or get the chance to meet Maria, you will see this for yourself as she is sure to build a meaningful relationship with you and offer her serves to you.

Sep 1, 2018

On today’s episode, Howie and Ryan are looking into the wonderful, inspirational travels of Walt Disney.  According to several sources, Walt was inspired by several trips he took that helped him shape his future park, Disneyland.  Of the many influences that Walt had, Howie recently was able to visit one in person, the Tivoli Gardens.

Tivoli Gardens is an amusement park and garden that is located in Copenhagen Denmark.  The park was first opened on August 15th in 1843 and is the second oldest operating amusement park in the world.  The oldest happens to be a few miles north in nearby Klampenborg called Dyrehavsbakken.

Tivoli Gardens had just over 4.5 million visitors in 2017 and was the second-most popular seasonal amusement park in the world after Europa-Park.  Tivoli is the most-visited theme park in Scandinavia and the fifth most visited in Europe.

Walt traveled there in 1951 only four years before the opening of Disneyland.  It was said that he walked the park and made many observations, taking notes in his notebook and asking plenty of questions.  Art Linkletter, who was a longtime friend of Walt, was with him on the trip and has been quoted as saying that Walt would ask Art’s opinion on this visit about how he could recreate or improve on all the wonderful things they were experiencing at Tivoli.

Howie does an excellent job of walking us through his experience at Tivoli and even points out where and what he found that reminds him of certain attractions at Disneyland.  You will be surprised what Howie found and how much it resembles a lot of our beloved classics at the Happiest place on Earth. Ryan and Howie then close out the show by relating what Walt did and learned on his travels with ways we can be inspired in our own schools.  We discuss things like visual reflective learning, finding inspiration from classroom visits, and developing creativity and innovation through engaging lessons. We hope that you enjoy our reflection on Walt’s trip to Tivoli and we are sure to find more inspiration from some of Walt’s many other trips which we will be sure to talk about on future My Disney Class Podcasts.

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