Dano Beal
Lafayette Elementary Schools
Seattle, WA

"The quote 'Those who believe there is a difference between education and entertainment, don't know the first thing about either one �.' provides the fuel for my daily practice. No matter how remarkable or relevant we may feel our lessons are, they become nothing more than lost sparks if they are not important to the child. Entertainment is a natural grabber, as it keeps us on the edge of our seat, hungry for more. I believe that learning is best when it capitalizes on the fact that we are alive and naturally curious."

"No one can walk by Mr. Beal's classroom without being magically absorbed by the active learning occurring within. Students are busy learning, singing, writing, investigating, calculating, reading, and teaching. Learning flows out of the classroom into the halls and throughout the building."

Dano effectively leverages entertainment as a way of getting his students' attention and, ultimately, getting them to learn. He uses an arsenal of fun approaches, including comedy, creative dramatics, and the demonstration of magical-seeming scientific properties. Dano also creates a variety of themes for his classroom that tie back into his curriculum. One year, Dano turned his classroom into an undiscovered archeological ruin, which evolved into a parent/community project transforming a vacant lot into an archeological dig site for the students. Other themes have included a medieval castle and an old western ghost town. In the end, Dano always creates a learning space that children just can't resist.

Other Highlights:

• Lead Science Instructor, National Science Foundation Inquiry Based Science Program, 2001-Present
• Washington State Science Teacher of the Year, 1994-95
• Created a Homework Hotline for greater communication between home & school
• Children's Program Director, designed and taught children's programs in skiing, Vail Associates, 1986-88
• Workshop Coordinator, Project Learning Tree, Washington, D.C.
• Facilitator & text contributor, Washington State Commission for Forest & Environmental Education
• Designed "Family Homework" to celebrate the talents found within a child's own family
• Outside interests include Native American Studies, computers, weight training, camping, swimming, handicapped athletics, reading, graphic arts, and silversmithing