The Bare Shelves Project: Building Our Art Room Library
My students need a quality and diverse classroom library that introduces them to artists and subjects that inspire and challenge their art making and are not available in our school or public library.
As a Title 1 school, the students that I serve seldom have opportunities to participate in the Arts outside of my fifty minute, once a week class. Ranging from 5 - 12 years old, my students make up a diverse demographic within the walls of my art room. This includes, but is not limited to, transitioning military families, low-income families, international refugees, bi-lingual, multi-racial homes, single parent homes and children in foster care.
So often, my students ask the question, "How did you do that?" This question represents a student's curiosity, passion, excitement, or even uncertainty while experiencing something new.
This question fuels their learning during class as I witness students who discover they can imagine, create, and discover things they never even knew were possible. Whether its resonating with the passion and bravery of a past great artist, mixing new and vibrant colors, or simply squishing cool, soft clay between their fingers, my kids are excited to try new things and are wonderfully surprised when they complete a new project and see their own masterpieces.
My Project
Do you remember that time when you were a kid and read a book about a great athlete or world discoverer? You were surprised at how much you had in common with that person or wanted to try what they did. While turning the pages, whether you knew it or not, that little book was changing you and your life.
Children's books about great artists, diverse art cultures, and diverse mediums will inspire and challenge my students to think about art, cultural groups, and the world in new ways.
In my Art room I strive to introduce children to as many mediums and artist styles as I can, but there are so many, that I will never touch on everything in my instruction. By having a classroom library stocked with books about artists such as Bansky (a contemporary graffiti artist), Faith Ringgold (an African American quilting artist), and Pablo Picasso (an innovative Spanish artist who invented collage), my students will discover art and artists that appeals to and challenges their interests and that will build on and support what they are already learning in my room. These resources will also support student's in their social studies with an increase in global awareness through artists they encounter. The ability to use problem solving skills in any area of life, a character trait found in all artist's stories, will also grow as students see how artists solve problems daily.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Yurk and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
