Newly Published: "Biomimicry and Human Design: Observing Bird Structures and Functions to Create Flying Machines with Artificial Intelligence" by Heejung An, Triada Samaras and Woonhee Sung

I am pleased to share our new article entitled "Biomimicry and Human Design: Observing Bird Structures and Functions to Create Flying Machines with Artificial Intelligence" published in the Journal of Technology-Integrated Lessons and Teaching. See the link below for the full article. View of Biomimicry and Human Design: Observing Bird Structures and Functions to Create Flying Machines with Artificial Intelligence

Trenton Board of Education Wood Scrap for Learning Professional Development with Triada Samaras

Welcome to:

Wood Scrap Art for Learning Professional Development Workshop 

Trenton Board of Education  12/10/2025

w/ Joanne Sung and Robert Keyes and Michelle Marigliano

Triada Samaras MA / MFA

Master Level Teaching Artist

Triada Samaras | Young Audiences

To Teachers: This reflection follows our three-part journey. It should take about 10–12 minutes—thank you for helping me document our process!

Google Forms Link

Day One:  Loose Parts:  Building growing structures/sculptures without glue.  Imagining/Thinking about trees and their natural growth patterns from the earth to upwards in the air and sky.  Finding ways to use the wood scrap to grow taller and higher. Critiquing creations using appropriate tools of words and analysis.  Writing poems.  Using the sculptures to evoke words and then creating free form poetry.  Drawing the structures/sculptures. From 3D to 2D.  Discussing classroom applications for various settings: the how and why.  Taking wood back to classroom to use with students. To be continued...

Many thanks to Laurie at Caseys Wood!

Day Two:  Theme:  A Sense of Place. Color Theory, Color Application, Attaching with Glue to Create Permanent Sculptures, Critique.  Building a place using paint sticks and glue.  Critiquing creations using appropriate tools of words and analysis.   Discussing practical classroom applications for various settings: the how and why.  Taking the wood and paint sticks back to classroom to use with students. 

For Teachers:  Learn Color Theory | Watercolor 101 with Sarah Cray of Let's Make Art 

Color Wheel was discovered Isaac Newton.

Primary Colors, Secondary Colors, Complimentary Colors, Tertiary Colors, Analogous Colors

Printing Colors:  Magenta Cyan and Yellow

To be continued...

Day Three:  Theme:  A Specific Place. Examples could include: A School. A Town, A Revival Spot.  Teachers Choose together.

Using floor plans and ideas about specific sites to inspire our use of wood scrap today working in self-selected teacher groups (2-3 people).

Additional materials used: colored paper, written labels, glue and

cardboard cut by teachers to create their site.

Critiquing creations using appropriate tools of words and analysis.   Discussing practical classroom applications for various settings: the how and why. Considering the overall framework for use with students. Final goodbyes and questionnaire time.

Goodbye for now! 

Professor Samaras