Join us on Friday, June 25, 2021, at “Rite Smells: A Sensory Exploration of the Historic Trade of the Indian Ocean,” an interactive workshop for Grade 6-14 educators! The workshop will take place from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.; 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. (Eastern Time).

Join trained “nose” and educator Michelle Krell Kydd in a sensory exploration of the historic routes of trade from the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. In this experiential learning environment Kydd will lead teachers in exploring a “scent flight” of eight aromatic plant essences from Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East and North Africa, transforming the abstract nature of smell into articulated lived experience. Teachers will learn how to integrate olfactory experiences in classroom settings with an emphasis on the relationship between spirituality and smellscape in various rites and rituals.

U-M Professor Jatin Dua will then provide an overview of the historical maritime trade of the Indian Ocean. Darin Stockdill will conclude with a discussion with participants about strategies for teaching this knowledge in classrooms.

Benefits of “Rite Smells”:

- Customized scent kits for use in this workshop
- Lecture by a scholar about the regional history and geography
- Multimedia educational resources
- Lesson plan created by the Center for Education Design, Evaluation and Research at the U-M School of Education
- State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs) from the Michigan Department of Education (Michigan educators only)


Schedule at a Glance (in Eastern Times):

9:00 - 11:00 am: Interactive sensory exploration with Michelle Krell Kydd
11:00 am - 12:00 am: Break
12:00 - 1:00 pm: Lecture by Professor Jatin Dua
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm: How to Teach this New Content, with Darin Stockdill

Co-sponsors:
Center for South Asian Studies, Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Center for Middle Eastern & North African Studies, and the Center for African Studies, Center for Education, Design, Evaluation, and Research