#artsliteracy

Arthur Ashe Elementary School 2nd Grade, Visual Art & English Language Arts Ms. Erin / Mr. Mercadel In Mr. Mercadel’s class we read the book The Buffalo Are Back and discussed how the book is a blend of fiction and nonfiction. The Native Americans were in a symbiotic relationship with the landscape including tall grasses that protected the earth and the buffalo who were essential to the life cycle of this prairie landscape. We explored America’s real past of new settlers nearly decimating the population of free roaming buffalo and therefore the grasses that protected the terrain.

Students learned the difference between a portrait and a landscape by examining the gorgeous illustrations by American landscape artist Wendell Minor. They then learned the concept of perspective and a horizon line to show depth in their own drawings.

The students created their own imagined landscapes, some of which, included grasses and buffalo like those from the story. They wrote about their landscapes in terms of their senses as if they were transported into their own pictures. Students wrote about what they saw, felt, heard, smelled, and tasted within their landscapes.

Arthur Ashe 3rd Grade, Theatre & ELA Mr. Martin / Ms. Torres 

Ms. Torres’ class delved into the story “Action Jackson” by imagining their own BEGINNINGS and ENDINGS to key images in the story. The students were put into groups and asked to choose an image from the story. Then they created a TABLEAU of what they thought came BEFORE the image or what they thought came AFTER the image. Then the audience guessed which one the performing team chose. 

The students got really into taking on their roles and in most groups a natural leader/DIRECTOR would emerge to organize everyone and facilitate. This exercise isn’t only helpful in entering the text, it also allows further exploration of the story structures of BEGINNING/MIDDLE/END and gives students opportunities to think beyond what’s presented in the story. Students can create their own stories and learn when/how to lead and when/how to follow. We also practice great audience etiquette.