Artists in Elementary Schools
Hands-On Learning
Muir Elementary School students, in Fresno, participated in arts-integrated lessons featuring dance, theatre, and the visual arts while fulfilling their Common Core requirements in social studies, science, and visual and performing arts. Teaching Artists worked alongside classroom teachers to incorporate creative arts experiences that would complement regular course materials in fun and memorable ways.
Practice as Play
Arts-integrated lesson plans considered diverse methods and modalities of learning for K-6 grade students. Sample lessons included: learning about the life cycle of butterflies and frogs through drawings and performance, using puppetry to portray fairy tales, drawing portraits of key historical figures, writing “living newspapers” to explore the topic of immigration, and using theatre to educate younger peers on the ecosystem.
Growing New Skills
The Fresno Arts Council offers a series of workshops to train Teaching Artists on how to prepare, design, and deliver arts-integrated lesson plans that meet Common Core state standards, in collaboration with classroom teachers. Workshop topics include strategies in classroom management, student engagement, art assessment techniques, and working with and marketing Teaching Artist services to schools.
Arts learning is a lifelong journey worth a community effort.
Video produced by Michael Price (2015)
Arts in Education was sponsored by the Central Valley Community Foundation, Fresno County Office of Education, Fresno State Humanics Program, and Philip T. Manoogian.
The program has expanded to also serve the City of Selma in Fresno County.
What is a Teaching Artist?
An overview of the Arts in Education program
A Teaching Artist is a two-career professional: a working artist and a working educator. As a working artist, they are involved in an ongoing process of discovery, problem solving, and refinement of skills in their arts discipline. As a working educator, the artist develops a knowledge base and skills in order to be an effective educator. (source: Arizona Commission on the Arts)
Why do we need Teaching Artists in schools?
Teaching Artists are crucial learning resources for the future of the arts.
Classroom teachers benefit from Teaching Artists’ deep content knowledge and expertise when designing and teaching arts-integrated lesson plans.
Students are exposed to increased critical inquiry and focused arts practices when guided by Teaching Artists.
Classroom learning experiences with Teaching Artists benefit from heightened creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and communication skills when art-integrated lesson plans include a Teaching Artist and classroom teacher.