Shadowbox Project

Waterdown District High School in Ontario, Canada Shadowbox Project — Inspired by the journals of Dan Eldon, this assignment depends on a large degree of freedom granted by the instructor. Students need to feel that expression is a very personal experience, and that the classroom is a “safe zone” in which to do that. It is recommended to do this assignment after a comfortable atmosphere has been established between the instructor and the students.

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Expression Project

Nathan Tidridge from Waterdown District High School in Ontario, Canada used Dan Eldon as an “expression” assignment for a Credit Recovery Class.

“Coming into the project, our students were curious to know about Dan and his life. Creating the opportunity for expression is very important for our youth – especially in a world that has become well connected technologically, but at the same time is losing the personal relationships that people thrive on. With expression comes freedom and perspective – the ability to stand at some point (a signpost of sorts) and look out into the world and say ‘this is who I am.’ Dan Eldon had that ability, and our students were engaged by his work.”

Download Expression Curriculum (PDF)

Lesson Ideas Using the film “Dying to Tell the Story”

A high school journalism teacher from League City, Texas shares the following lessons which all use the documentary Dying to Tell the Story.

“Students designed posters for the video, which became a type of art therapy for them. Their drawings showed how much emotion was brought up by the images they saw and the stories they heard. We put the students’ posters in the hall and many people stopped by the room to ask about them.” – Wynette Jameson (HS teacher)

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Lesson ideas for a wide audience — high school and college classes, reading groups, Scouts, church organizations, etc. — pertaining to the traveling exhibit of Dan’s collages and photos, Dan Eldon: The Art of Life, and Dying to Tell the Story.

Lesson ideas for a wide audience — high school and college classes, reading groups, Scouts, church organizations, etc. — pertaining to the traveling exhibit of Dan’s collages and photos, Dan Eldon: The Art of Life, and Dying to Tell the Story.

Lesson ideas for a wide audience — high school and college classes, reading groups, Scouts, church organizations, etc. — pertaining to the traveling exhibit of Dan’s collages and photos, Dan Eldon: The Art of Life, and Dying to Tell the Story.