Grant:
Appreciation and Concepts of Art: A Fine Arts Curriculum for
Elementary Students |
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Project: Implement a series of Fine Arts lessons to enhance
students' understanding and appreciation of art through exposure
to and discussion of the works of 6 diverse artists.
School: Rose Hill Elementary
Contact name: Joyce Teshima
Students served: 100
Amount funded: $1,500.00
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Chris Banks came to
Rose Hill Elementary as an art docent in 2003. A retired publisher,
an artist by training, Mr. Banks developed a series of six lessons
based on the appreciation of museum-quality masterpieces, each lesson
emphasizing a different element of art: color, line, pattern, shape,
texture, etc.
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He first conducted art classes with 2nd graders and Special Education
students in 2003-04 and again in 2004-05. In 2004 he joined the
staff of Rose Hill as a paraeducator, helping students attain their
basic educational objectives (reading, writing, mathematics), where
he is now in his third year.
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Thanks to a grant from the Lake Washington Schools Foundation, Mr.
Banks has been able to offer his art program this year to 100 students
at Rose Hill: combined Special Education classes (grades 1-3) as
well as all 4th and 6th grade classes.
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His students are learning the history of art, along with important
links to social studies and science. They receive a strong foundation
in color theory and various media, using authentic artists materials,
and learn to communicate ideas and feelings in new ways. They build
a new vocabulary, and gain exposure to many important movements
and lives in art.
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For many children, art proves to be an area rich with unique opportunity
for success. The program has been demonstrated to help develop a
more confident, expressive, and creative student. Teachers are provided
with the tools and materials needed to continue to conduct the lessons
in the future.
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The goal of the program is to engender a greater understanding
and love of art, and to enrich and promote all facets of learning
by creating a more visually attuned and observant student. Coincidentally,
art is also a lot of fun, and most of the kids seem to agree!
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