Over the past several years I have facilitated several intergenerational arts projects, including poetry projects connecting Chicago Public School students and residents in a retirement home. 

I wrote an article entitled "To Arrive at the Vision of Gas Lamps as Angels: Teaching Students To Write Dramatic Monologues Inspired by Historical Figures and Interviews with Seniors," which was published in Teachers & Writers Magazine. I also interviewed the wonderful poet Bob Hicok; that interview accompanies the article. 

Here are several public presentations regarding intergenerational arts programs that I have been involved with --

• Organizer / Moderator of an intergenerational programs panel at the Chicago Cultural Center, presented by Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs (5/2007)
• Co-Presenter of “How the Arts Can Transform Your Residents’ Lives” (with Tom Neiman) at the Illinois Activity Professionals Association Annual Conference (10/23/2008)

• Co-Presenter of "Intergenerational Engagement: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Community Development and Educational Opportunities" (with Beth Welch) at the Intergenerational Programs Conference presented by the Chicago Metropolitan Intergenerational Committee  (11/2004)

Currently I'm working with administrators and teachers at Bethesda Home and a CPS school in Chicago's Montclare neighborhood, on an intergenerational arts project that will begin in fall 2012. More info TBA. 

I would be happy to work with classroom teachers and administrators to develop a curriculum that includes creative writing, audio recordings, oral histories and/or other components. Please feel free to contact me if you'd like to find out more about intergenerational arts projects I have facilitated or curriculum I have developed. I have lots of documentation (lesson plans, students' poetry and other creative works, photos, etc.) that I would be happy to share. 

-- Dan Godston