Center for Exploratory Studies
Thursty Project
Using the power and creativity of entertainment and technology for education!
Thursty Project
Using the power and creativity of entertainment and technology for education!
Thursty The Elephant™
Thursty the Elephant is a six-foot tall, soft and lovable elephant character developed to communicate positive messages to young children and to engage the child in all aspects of their development, i.e. social, cognitive, physical and emotional development. Thursty reinforces personal development and educational concepts to children in a friendly, safe, accepting and loving manner. Thursty models positive attitude and behavior to teachers, parents, caregivers, children and all family members. Thursty can sing and dance. He loves to read books, count, explore and play with his friends. He loves his family and he tries to be |
History of Thursty the Elephant
Thursty the Elephant was created by Jonathan Clark. Jonathan, as Vice President, Creative Marketing Services for Motown Record Company, created and experienced the economic and social power of entertainment. As a parent, he saw that while the entertainment industry was becoming more successful, the educational system was declining rapidly. So, after enough "fast lane" hustle, he felt there was a better way to use this power of entertainment. Jonathan had a concept for a cartoon character that would appeal to people of all colors--a character to entertain and educate young children and one that parents would love as well. The character would be a star entertainer. This character would have an artistic presence comparable to Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse, the music appeal of Barry Gordy's Motown and be lovable, fun, with people appeal. |
What he wanted to do was use the tools and devices of entertainment and technology to make positive change. And the place to start is with the children. Let's make education fun and engaging. Let's use music and images that the kids relate to and learn from. And, make it engaging for the parents, the teachers and the community; so they will want to get involved.
The vision was to combine fine arts, film, video and television, music, radio, theater and dance with state-of-the-art technology to create educational products -- educational products that produce positive, immediate and durable learning. Thursty The Elephant is the first manifestation of that vision. Thursty was created to address the educational needs of children using music and songs that are fun and engaging.
Social Ramifications
Children are the key to creating a more integrated, positive society. As children are drawn to the positive learning process, they, in turn, will draw the parents, teachers and caregivers into the process.
The vision was to combine fine arts, film, video and television, music, radio, theater and dance with state-of-the-art technology to create educational products -- educational products that produce positive, immediate and durable learning. Thursty The Elephant is the first manifestation of that vision. Thursty was created to address the educational needs of children using music and songs that are fun and engaging.
Social Ramifications
Children are the key to creating a more integrated, positive society. As children are drawn to the positive learning process, they, in turn, will draw the parents, teachers and caregivers into the process.
The Initial CES Thursty Project The Initial CES Thursty Project was a 6-year proof-of-concept program to test and evaluate the use of an educational cartoon character. Not just any cartoon character, but one that used the power and creativity of entertainment and state-of-the-art technology for education. An engaging charter that promotes learning using the music that feels good; the words that we are drawn to; and the images and media that is fun and entertaining. Thursty is an engaging character that facilitates the acquisition of specific educational concepts and curriculums and creates the joy of learning as an attitude and way of life. Here are selected examples of the proof-of-concept program. |
Thursty the Elephant was first introduced in Austin as an educational character at the Oaks Child Development Center in East Austin in the fall of 2001.
A representative sample of his "work" would include:
A music CD featuring some of Thursty’s favorite songs: examples -- ABC 123
A children's book titled "Thursty Goes To The 4th Grade," which was written by the students at Campbell Elementary in Austin, Texas.
A Music Video It’s Time to Read featuring students from Allison and Galindo Elementary Schools and Huston-Tillison and St. Edwards university.
A Character Building Music Video Friendship featuring students from Pease Elementary School
A representative sample of his "work" would include:
A music CD featuring some of Thursty’s favorite songs: examples -- ABC 123
A children's book titled "Thursty Goes To The 4th Grade," which was written by the students at Campbell Elementary in Austin, Texas.
A Music Video It’s Time to Read featuring students from Allison and Galindo Elementary Schools and Huston-Tillison and St. Edwards university.
A Character Building Music Video Friendship featuring students from Pease Elementary School
Thursty is featured on a television show called "It's Like That" hosted by The Word Genie, AKA Cara Briggs, a child television star on Caraasolendas (see poster and video clip) the first bilingual television show in the US and Sonrisas both national PBS shows.
A representative sample of his appearances would include: Gibbons Recreations Center (Sims Elementary School Reading Program) Allison Elementary School (It's Time to Read Music Video) Galindo Elementary School (It's Time to Read Music Video) Pease Elementary School Campbell Elementary School AISD (Presentation of 4th grade Writing Contest Winner) Book People Book Store Mitchie's Fine Black Art Huston-Tillitson College (Black History Celebration) St. Edwards University (Golden Peanut Awards) KAZI (community radio) Birthday Party Go Education All-city Band Concert (Burger Center) Texas Book Fair (Children's Show and Video at Capitol) |
Thursty the Elephant inspires students to draw on their own imagination and creativity. After exposure to Thursty and the ideas of creating meaningful stories using characters, an animation class at St. Edwards University produced a children’s puppet television show called "The Pet Shop".
Productions/Products
Below are some of the products that will evolve from the CES Thursty Project. Most of these were
produced as proof-of-concept productions/products during the 6-year Initial CES Thursty Project.
Video Productions/Products [can be used for Web and TV broadcasting and any playbackdevice (pods, cell phones, etc.)]
• Educational/motivational character building behaviors (love, fairness, self esteem,honesty, creativity, sharing, caring, helping, independence, truth, respect, pride, loyalty, success, listening, feelings, friendship, family, traditions, imagination, attitude, kindness, cleanliness, thankfulness, etc.) • Teacher generated educational curriculum (reading, math, science, etc.) • Children’s Productions (live characters, puppets, animation, etc.) • Performances (theater, live music and sporting events) • Documentaries • Specific educational products (Teacher training, contractual events) • DVDs • Web Broadcasting (e-books to be sold and distributed to school systems) • Community projects Music Productions/Products • Educational Albums, Singles and Jingles • Creation of music for all Productions/Products • Productions/Products for individuals and groups • Community projects |
Vertical Divider
Print Productions/Products
• Educational book creation and publishing • Graphics and coloring books Cartoon Character Creation/Production/Products • Characters for specific needs (attitudes, places, words, etc.) • Characters for specific situations (contractual) • Character teams to work at schools and produce products for that school. • Character teams that do public performances Concert Tours Productions/Products (live education shows that will tour school to school, city to city and country to country) Licensing and Merchandising • Artwork • Writings • Music |
Copyright © The Thursty Project 2000-2016. All rights reserved.