My school serves around 530 students ranging from VPK-6th Grade. Our school and students are located in a lower socioeconomic area of our county.
We are a Title 1 school.
Over 70% of our student body is on free and reduced lunch. Despite these economic challenges, each day I challenge my students to use critical thinking skills and the artistic process to create original works of art. Unfortunately, due to lack of resources, my students are severely disadvantaged in the area of art and culture. In fact, many students enter school without any art experience at all. Some have never even had a set of crayons to draw with. Because of this, they have very little or no experience with authentic art materials or exposure to the culture and art of the world. As their art teacher, I want to do all I can to close their learning gaps and expose them to art and culture through authentic art experiences.
To provide these experiences I need to be able to provide them the authentic art materials. I want to expose them this year to the art of ink painting through the cultural lens of Chinese and Japanese style ink art.
My Project
These materials will allow me to give my students the same experience that ink painters have when they create their art. Their art will look the same as the artists they learn about and the paintings I show them in class because they will have the same tools. During these art-making sessions we will also discuss the cultural contexts of these artworks.
I hope to boost my student's confidence and self-worth through these lessons.
I also hope to teach them that their creative expression is just as important as any other artist. This will all be done while learning about the customs and history of cultures from the wider world they live in.
More than 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
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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. HITCHCOCK and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
