In collaboration with libraries, schools and other community partners, we are developing programs based on Tasha Tudor’s work and life that foster connection and inspiration among people of all ages.
Tasha’s W.O.R.L.D. project (Walk Outside, Read, Learn, Discover)
With our newest initiative, the Tasha Tudor Society encourages children’s sense of wonder by delivering programs that bring out their creativity, curiosity and joy. The Tasha’s W.O.R.L.D. project combines three major elements:
1-collaboration with a broad cohort of educators, artisans and naturalists to develop curriculum specifically for pairing with Tasha’s books for young children and making that curriculum available online for free,
2-delivery of that curriculum by our Society chapters and partners through StoryWalk®, a method by which laminated pages from a children’s book are attached to wooden stakes and installed along an outdoor path, encouraging children and adults to enjoy reading, exercise and the outdoors all at the same time, and
3-placement of StoryWalk® laminated book sets in libraries across the U.S. making them widely available at no charge.
On August 26, 2019, our pilot program explored literacy, exercise and connecting to the natural world by exhibiting laminated pages of Tasha Tudor’s 1956 Caldecott honor book 1 is One on a trail of 20 garden stakes in collaboration with Wilmington’s Pettee Library at Molly Stark State Park. After reading the story on foot, children (K-5) went on a scavenger hunt for natural materials which they then assembled into their own counting book. Click here for pictures and more information about this pilot event.
We are currently developing comprehensive pedagogical methods and outcome goals for the Tasha’s W.O.R.L.D. project before moving on to collaborate with local, national and international educators, artisans and naturalists to develop further activities tied to 1 is One. The first activity will be on our website soon and like all future Tasha’s W.O.R.L.D. activities, will be available at no charge. When the 1 Is One curriculum is completed, we’ll begin curriculum work for other Tasha Tudor titles.
Concurrently, we are placing laminated copies of 1 is One in lending libraries around the country. Users may opt to host a StoryWalk® (or story time inside with a standard copy of the book) in their community and select from the activities we develop.
StoryWalk® is a simple but powerful tool that can be created easily and inexpensively and used almost anywhere, making it a very accessible art delivery tool. Through our Tasha’s W.O.R.L.D. project we aim to provide free programming that is easily replicable in diverse locations across the country, and to encourage people to partner with their local libraries, farmer’s markets, nursing homes, parks, schools and more to promote literacy, health, and appreciation of our natural world.
Photos by Kelly Fletcher