This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
Can you imagine what it would be like to never get to paint? My students primarily come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Their families do not have the resources to meet their creative needs. Without the art classroom, they would literally never have an opportunity to paint
I teach art to 600 students in grades 2, 3, 4, and 5.
My school is high poverty. The students come to me with almost no background knowledge about visual art. Most of them love to create art, and they love looking at art. I know they deserve the opportunity to create something that they care about. As I sit here trying to think of a way to convince you of what I already know, one student in particular comes to mind. This fourth grader has amazing talent. He can draw almost anything with a pencil. He has developed that skill overtime because he loves art and has access to paper and pencils. He doesn't have access to paint at home and has not developed his artistic skills beyond basic drawing. This is an at risk student who needs a lot of support, even at this young age, to prevent drop out and all of the dangers that come with it. He is just one example of how if we don't provide opportunities for these students, they will not make it!
My Project
Painting is fun and anyone can do it. However, painting well is a skill that has to be taught. My students deserve the opportunity to learn to paint well with quality paints. Tempera paint serves a purpose and is great for painting posters, but it does not mix or blend well. Tempera paint is cheap, which is why it is used so often in elementary schools. Students need to be committed and connected to their learning. When they are creating something, they need to see that the results are high quality. They need to think, "Hey, this is something I care about. It looks great. I am going to keep it, and I am going to make another." This is why I am requesting acrylic paint for my students. Acrylic is just better quality paint. My students will create artwork based on traditional art of several countries. They will paint Venetian Masks made of plaster. They will draw and paint Haitian Tap Tap Buses.
When deciding whether or not to support this project, consider the student that I have told you about and the many more like him.
They deserve to have an education that includes things they care about. When they create, it should be something of quality. They deserve to be inspired by art! They deserve to paint!
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. Koonlaba and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
