Deep River Visions
234 Followers
Greensboro, North Carolina, United States
About the store
I have been a pianist and church musician in private for a long time, but worked in another field. The training in music technology and animation came along in order to prepare for retiring.
I did teach Randolph Community college curriculum courses in History of Rock Music and Jazz Appreciation in 2009-2010. In the final assignment, my students were encouraged to make expressive digital collages using online software. Also I taught 7th and 8th grade general science years ago in Clinton, Tenn. and adult landscape design at A&T State U. and at Guilford Technical Community College. I tutored 3-5th grades in general homework at church and taught piano to lower grade students for 2 years as part of the Harmony Music Project in Greensboro NC (on Facebook).
My main career was doing work as a landscape architect and illustrator and I continue to assist nonprofits, such as schools and churches. Recent examples include projects such as an environmental study area, an elementary school butterfly garden, and a head start grounds improvement. Website: http://www.evocations.org/landscapedesign.html
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Dragonfly Life Cycle and Metamorphosis
(New for school year 2014-15)
The subject of dragonflies offers many avenues for study. Dragonflies have been an ancient and popular decorative image and the subject of folklore because they appear in many colors and varieties. They also have an interesting life cycle, play a role both in fresh water and in the air to control other insects, and are found in some form in much of the world. Some research suggests they form and travel in occasional "swarms."
You could explore their "incomplete" m
3rd - 6th
Biology, Environment, General Science
Animal Camouflage and Deception in Nature
This file focuses on Animal Deceptions (blending with or resembling other backgrounds or creatures).
Camouflage (cypsis) can serve predator or prey. It basically is an adaptation of color, texture, or form (or some combination) in order to better hide an animal in the surrounding environment. Mimicry goes a step further and actually references a specific living or nonliving "model" for the mimic. Examples cover a wide spectrum, such as a non venomous snake appearing as a dangerous type, or pla
4th - 7th
Biology, Environment, General Science
Forms of Water (the water cycle)
This video is intended to support learning about the water cycle, using the visual idea of a magical water drop to express the many ways that water can appear in nature. The film opens and closes with the ocean as the source and destination of the cycle, even if the flow is interrupted when water resides for vast amounts of time in caves, aquifers, or polar ice. After the opening coastline, water is shown as vapor, followed by 4 seasonal liquid and solid forms, closing again with a coastline.
5th - 8th
Earth Sciences, Environment, Physical Science
Metamorphosis Amphibian and Butterfly
This sequence focuses on the changes within amphibians and insects from generation to generation. You will see swimming frogs, various stages of tadpoles, and surface frogs as well as the pond vegetation they live in. The stages of these creatures were student art. Finally the caterpillars, cocoon, and various adults in the red flowers and the solo egg-laying and emerging butterflies were drawn or painted by students.
See other films by DeepRiverVisions at https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/St
2nd - 5th
Environment, General Science, Visual Arts
Common Freshwater Microbes & Tardigrades (Water Bears)
This video was originally going to be about the moss life cycle, then branched into including tardigrades ("Water Bears"). However, the subject of life in ponds and other fresh water at the microscopic level opened up more variety of creatures that students should be able to appreciate and perhaps even collect view in the lab. Most YouTube clips present the organisms either split up by type, or as part of long documentaries. This is a more concise collection I hope will work for teachers over su
5th - 8th
Biology, Environment, General Science
Life Story of a Tree
(New for school year 2014-15)
I hope this will foster Fall or Winter nature walks in comfortable conditions. The intent is to help students envision the role of trees in various stages, especially in the "rotting log" phase. The plot starts with the living majestic specimen that succumbs to a lightening strike, then stands for awhile without foliage, and finally crashes down (by sound suggestion) in a winter storm. Along the way animals that depend on the tree for shelter and food (squirrel, cr
3rd - 6th
Biology, Environment, General Science
Past and Present (or Big to Little)
This movie shows the earth in the universe, and on its surface first we see life in the water, illustrated by fish in a pond. Then it shows life on land as birds in the distance and trees forming a forest, culminating with flowers and insects. There is only music for background but the film uses children's art in the animation. You can tie this into ideas for classroom art and early nature awareness or science projects.
See other films by DeepRiverVisions at https://www.teacherspayteachers.com
K - 3rd
Earth Sciences, Environment, Visual Arts
Spiral Forms in Nature
(New for school year 2015-2016)
This video shows a series of (logarithmic) spiral forms in nature as an opening to the study of all kinds of patterns the teacher could introduce. A good overview of the spiral and patterns in general can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logarithmic_spiral (note list of natural phenomena) and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patterns_in_nature
There of course are natural forms that replicate basic geometric forms like cones, lozenges, ovals, and spheres
5th - 8th
Biology, General Science, Geometry
The Farm at Night
This video grew out of real sightings on a nearby farm at various times of almost every animal shown in a series of imaginary "scenes" in a style using animations or footage over photo backgrounds. The sequence leaves out daytime animals we are also familiar with which don't appear (groundhogs, squirrels, turtles and snakes, deer, rabbits, hawks etc). The "plot" is simply a sunrise taking over to yield morning at the end. There is also a rough thread of starting from plant life, a pond reference
3rd - 6th
Biology, Environment, General Science
Ocean Life Shore to Deep Progression
Although we might not live near the ocean, many of us have visited it, and it affects all life on earth. Imagine that the palm has hanging seeds that travel on currents to other places; notice the flying and wading shore birds; starfish; jellyfish; and finally big swimmers like whales. The animals and the still island in the ocean and the cliffs were all student art. This could be used even if you have an art or study project including other types of life such as octopi, turtles or squid.
See o
2nd - 5th
Environment, General Science, Visual Arts
Animal Dwellings (with Debris Hut construction)
This 6 min. short film covers a quick look at types of shelters built or adapted for use by various animals. (You may want to use it to start a discussion to see if students can think of other examples, including complex cases such as chimney swallows who use a big piece of human construction but also make their own attached nests, etc. This could lead to individual projects or reports.)
The second half explains an adventure outing with a group 8-9 year olds, ending with a short film of them bu
3rd - 6th
Basic Principles, Environment, General Science
Common North American Butterflies
This is a short "storybook style field guide" that can be be used with other materials to explore butterfly groups, habits, and life cycles. I did confirm that all of these are very widespread. If they are more prevalent in the eastern US, look into western relatives (ie. anise swallowtails). All types shown do feed on wild carrot, which is the visual reference spot that they either take off from or land on in the short film. Different butterfly positions are shown to display how they really app
3rd - 6th
Biology, Environment, General Science
Wind Seeds (Field Progression)
This video focuses on ways that meadow plants invade an open area, and how they are followed by trees, noting that most invasive types are mainly blown in by the wind. Several mechanisms for wind dispersal are shown by the dandelion, thistle, and milkweed that use delicate "parachutes," followed by trees that have evolved winged samaras for distribution on air currents (sometimes called "helicopters" or "spinners").
The teacher can help students explore other surprising types, such as plants t
3rd - 6th
Biology, Environment, General Science
Showing 1-13 of 13 results
About the store
Experience
I have been a pianist and church musician in private for a long time, but worked in another field. The training in music technology and animation came along in order to prepare for retiring.
I did teach Randolph Community college curriculum courses in History of Rock Music and Jazz Appreciation in 2009-2010. In the final assignment, my students were encouraged to make expressive digital collages using online software. Also I taught 7th and 8th grade general science years ago in Clinton, Tenn. and adult landscape design at A&T State U. and at Guilford Technical Community College. I tutored 3-5th grades in general homework at church and taught piano to lower grade students for 2 years as part of the Harmony Music Project in Greensboro NC (on Facebook).
My main career was doing work as a landscape architect and illustrator and I continue to assist nonprofits, such as schools and churches. Recent examples include projects such as an environmental study area, an elementary school butterfly garden, and a head start grounds improvement. Website: http://www.evocations.org/landscapedesign.html
Teaching style
My 2 interests came together when I attended a “Child in Nature” conference at the NC School of Design, which led to development of my thoughts leading to the Deep River Visions children’s art videos.
It seems like we all start out "drawing" and "painting," and that universal aptitude can be guided to become a tool for deeper observation. In keeping with the book "Last Child in the Woods," I would like to foster more nature awareness in the next generation. I see myself more as a background media resource person than a leading classroom personality, but have enough exposure to relate to teaching.
Awards & shining teacher moments
Several in landscape design.
My own education history
Master of Science in Music Technology - Indiana/Purdue University. Completed in May, 2008.
More information available at http://music.iupui.edu/degree/
(Earlier training in landscape architecture at Michigan State U.)
All courses involved research and submission of papers related to design of music websites and use of software products in video sound enhancement and music learning environments, and my final project research in this area led to the idea of including amateur art in music videos.
Portfolio: http://www.mindspring.com/~lesmuskey7/intro.html
Additional biographical information
I started composing about 1995, and in 1998 opened a sheet music website so I could share pieces written by little-known historic composers and my own writing. The site has been favorably reviewed and linked by indexes of Internet sheet music sites. The blog tied to the archives of scores is http://dreamcreekmusic.org
I also have a “You Tube” Channel: http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=wagle88&p=r
Finally, a few downloadable soundtracks are available at: https://soundcloud.com/dreamcreekmusic
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