Arts in the Schools
ACHF Arts Education
To increase the quantity and types of arts learning opportunities for youth.One goal for our residencies, is to show how education, including non-arts, can be greatly enhanced using the arts. Both residencies address Minnesota standards of education in both the arts and other content areas. By doing this we hope to reinforce and enhance the understanding of both content areas. The goal of Layl McDill's residency is to combine her unique art form with concepts from science, social studies and math. By using creativity, problem solving and math concepts, 3rd grade students will create physical representations of the animals that they are learning about in science. For the fourth grade, social studies standards will be addressed and students will use communication, creativity, and problem solving to create physical representations of state birds from the states that students are learning about. The residency will be considered successful if the following criteria are met: 1. Students are able to use and incorporate polymer clay, armatures, color mixing and millefiore/caning techniques to make a 3-dimensional form. 2. Students are able to successfully create unique 3-dimensional representations of predator and prey animals and state birds. 3. Students are able to talk about their use of elements and principals of art to represent the unique qualities of their animals or birds. We will also know that we have achieved our goals by documenting the end products from each residency with photographs. The sculptures that each child creates will demonstrate pride and show that they participated in the artistic processes of learning new information and skills, planning, decision making, production, and evaluation of their artwork. To further evaluate the process, we will distribute a survey to instructors to evaluate the success of the residency in teaching the state objectives and creating excitement for learning. Community performances and art shows will also provide feedback by participation from parents, showing excitement for the arts and their child's experience. Surveys will specifically address the following statements. Teachers: 1. Interest in the arts. 2. Excitement for learning core classroom objectives. 3. Reinforcement and enhanced comprehension of both art and core content area learning. 4. Achievement of above state objectives. 5. Overall quality of the residency. Parents: 1. Interest and excitement for the arts. 2. Involvement in residency and community event. 3. General excitement for going to school during residency. 4. Student understanding of the basic objectives outlined above. 5. Overall quality of the residency.
One measurable outcome was the huge increase in students that have now had exposure to another actual working artist from our state. Our students now also have a basic understanding of an art media that they were unaware of before the residency, and the core group students each have a colorful and creative sculpture that they made themselves to be proud of. When asked to write down their thoughts about the residency, 100 percent of student responses were very positive. Community people attending the art shows were greatly impressed with the student work and very excited that our students are given the opportunity, through Southwest Minnesota Arts Council, to work with Layl McDill and other artists like her during these artist in the school residencies.
Other, local or private