Stories and Art Around the World

Stories and Art Around the World is a new class at Family Learning Program for 5-8 year old artists. Shown here are our own hand-made books, a large Story Map that we are fabricating together, and a handful of our many stick puppets.

Some of the Big Ideas that drive our lessons are:
1. Stories and Art connect us to people and places all around the world.
2. Words and pictures can tell a story together.
3. A story needs all different kinds of characters.
4. Something always changes in a story.

Our class has launched an exciting collaborative project, combining the ancient art of storytelling with high-tech multi-media. We started by capturing the spontaneous essence of spoken word using a sound recording device.

Big Words for a Big Idea

Gearing up for my final session at the TATLab, a teaching artist training lab that may well turn out to be a life changing experience for this teaching artist, I'm still trying to get comfortable crafting a Teaching Artist's Big Idea. How about this version:

"Engaging in the Visual Arts activates metacognition, empowering students to make integrative connections."

It's a mouthful.

Photo by Youth in Focus

Words like "activate" and "empower" easily roll off the tongue, but who says "metacognition" in an elevator speech?

"Integrative connections" are where I try to elaborate: in art and in life, connections within and between systems, across diverse disciplines, is what I want my students to find the power to enact.

What better place to foster this synergy besides an arts rich learning environment? Where tools and training are readily at hand, and a spirit of inclusiveness clears a path to creativity and collaboration?