Empowering students through art is something that my world history classes have done so little with up until now. We've closely read Picasso's Guernica during our 1900-1950 unit, and we've dipped our toes into topics like modern art or impressionism -- that's it. My students want more.
My students and I live in a small town, and yet they are future world-shapers.
I believe they can be the kinds of teens who grow up into parents, spouses, thinkers, and creators who impact others. Yet, for many of them, this small town is all they've ever known -- and there's both a beauty to that reality, and a limitation to it.
For so many of them, their visual arts classes are world-openers -- but what if the visual arts invaded my world history classroom in a much deeper, more exploratory fashion?
My Project
I'm asking for 33 books about art -- in other words, one unique book per child based on my present class sizes. I would love if, once per quarter, my students could have a lesson in which to explore a text on art, reflect on what that exploration taught them about ways in which art informs our study of history, and then produce their own, exploration-inspired works of art in response to what they've learned. I would leave the lattermost piece up to the students with the promise that their work could be displayed somewhere in the classroom for the current quarter.
I have seen my students perk up when we have a rare world history lesson on an art-related topic, but the sad fact is that we lack the resources to dig much deeper.
This project would allow every single child to spend a lesson with a unique, art-related book, each quarter. It's a major improvement on where I'm currently at with empowering students through art.
Thank you for considering this exciting possibility for my students and I.
Half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mr. Stuart and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
