619.677.0751 Projects are co-designed by artist-teacher teams to meet the needs of individual classes.
The following projects demonstrate the power of the arts to make learning meaningful and engaging in the elementary classroom. Lesson plans outline the processes students participate in throughout a project, and are meant to serve as guides rather than comprehensive instructions. We hope that you find these projects inspiring. Adapt, modify or simplify these projects to best support your students in becoming active participants in their own learning.
Puppetry for the Articulate Eye
In honing their skills as independent, enthusiastic readers and confident, articulate speakers, students engage in comprehensive readings and analysis of short scripted versions of The Three Billy Goats Gruff and
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Biodiversity and Beauty in the Classroom: Rainforest Installations
In learning about the rich and complex abundance of plant and animal life in the rainforest, students embark on an inquiry-based investigation using a variety of source materials, including books,
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Things That Grow: A Garden Installation
Students collaboratively research, design, and create a three-dimensional wall piece depicting how things grow. In the three layers of the garden—soil, surface, and sky—vegetables, fruits, flowers, and insects are represented
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Cultural Assemblages
Students work in groups to create assemblages that symbolically reflect a particular culture in a respectful and authentic way. Aspects of culture to be addressed in assemblage include customs, food,
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The Ultimate Creative Writing Tool Kit – Science Fiction
Students take an in-depth look at the creative writing process, exploring the genre of science fiction. They draw inspiration from the writing of Humberto Rivas, and experience the freedom of
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Science Rocks
In the style of Schoolhouse Rock!, students produce songs to enhance a life sciences unit. Through the process of research and lyric writing, students gain a deeper understanding of content,
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“The Better to Understand Story Structure With”-Retelling Traditional Fairytales with a Twist
As a foundation for understanding literature and comprehending basic story structure, students analyze two traditional fairy tales, break them into essential story elements (characters, setting and plot), and illustrate their
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Bee the Change: A Campaign for Awareness
Students create a campaign to spread the word around the hot topic, the plight of the bees, and find innovative ways to change people’s perceptions about bees. Through this discovery,
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Contact between the Aztecs and Cortes: A First-Person Exploration
The Aztec civilization is brought to life through the eyes of six members of Aztec society—emperor, priest, slave, teacher, artist, and warrior—and their individual responses to the arrival of Hernan
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Trade and Trajectory: An Exploration of Maps, International Relations, and Fruit
In researching the trajectory of fruits, vegetables, and products, from point of origin to their hands, students trace established routes and modes of transportation through the continents outlined in a
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People Who Make a Difference: Legacy Portrait Book
“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts
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Mapping our Heritage through Creative Movement
Students embark on a geographical, historical, and cultural journey through concepts of place and belonging. Students analyze their place within their school, their community, and in the larger world. They
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