Fall 2009 Art in Action training session.
Photo courtesy of Art in Action.
Art in Action is a unique non-profit organization that offers an art appreciation and art techniques curriculum for kindergarten through eighth grade. With headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., AiA is being taught by parent volunteers in schools across California, including in San Francisco, Redwood City, San Jose, and Pleasanton, as well as in New York, Texas, Washington, and Minnesota.
Children benefit greatly from experiencing art and from learning art in schools. Torben Gronning, AiA's marketing director, and members of the AiA program committee, answered a few questions about the AiA program, what kids like best about it, and how schools can get involved.
1. What are the benefits for children in the AiA program in school?
"The structure of the program balances student skills and creativity with steps that ensure success. Total immersion [in the art lesson] puts a child in charge of their project, which equals empowerment, and it's time in school for self-expression. Also, there are no right or wrong ideas; everyone's ideas are important. And kids like talking about their art."
2. Why is it important to teach art appreciation to young children?
"The arts teach children to make good judgments about qualitative relationships, and it teaches that problems can have more than one solution and that questions can have more than one answer. Also, the arts celebrate multiple perspectives -- there are many ways to see and interpret the world.
"Also, the arts remind us that the limits of our language do not define the limits of our cognition. The arts help children learn to say what cannot be said and to discover the range and variety of what we are capable of feeling."
3. How are the different lessons and themes chosen for each grade?
"We chose art that is appropriate for and appealing to children of a given age. Young children like art that tells stories and shows images of children. Third graders are interested in the “magic” of the perspective. Fourth graders like modern art because they are able to draw it successfully. The lessons for grades 5-8 all integrate well with social studies. Also, classroom teachers suggested images and themes that integrate art with other parts of the curriculum.
"For each grade level we selected art motifs such as portrait, landscape, still life, abstract art; we also chose works in a variety of media including painting, prints, and sculptures. We chose art from different cultures reflecting the actual student demographics: Asian, African, and Latin American."
4. How can schools get involved with Art in Action?
"Starting an Art in Action program at your school is easier than it looks. AiA will support you every step of the way with training, materials, and networking with like-minded educators and parents. First, learn more about the program works from the Web site, find out how art helps students thrive in school, and request an information packet for your school.
"Next, talk to teachers, administrators, and parents about the program. Schedule with us a presentation at your school. Figure out how you'll introduce AiA to the classroom, including identifying teachers and parents who are excited about AiA. Last, order the AiA program, which includes online lessons, books, materials, and training. You can launch the AiA program any time during the school year, and AiA will train teachers and parent docents to teach the AiA program."
5. How much does the AiA program cost?
"Schools adopt our program by classrooms and grade levels. The cost depends on the number of classrooms the school decides to use the program for. A typical average cost of $14 per student per year, including classroom licenses, lesson-specific art materials, teacher/docent training, and ongoing school support."
6. What's new from Art in Action?
"The 72 Art in Action lessons in Programs K-5 are now online, making teacher/docent class preparation more convenient than ever. We've added many exciting new features to each lesson, including animated discussion of the masterpiece; video demonstrations of art techniques; a wiki for sharing tips and ideas; links to interesting websites, books, and music; spoken instructions; and much more. Watch a sample lesson online."
For more info: Check out this recent article.
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