Artists
in
Schools
Since 1993, the Artists in Schools program has played a vital role in connecting Shoreline- and Lake Forest Park-area students with world-class arts activities. Each year, the program provides thousands of dollars of funding for local professional artists to partner with educators in order to bring the arts into PreK - 12th grade classrooms.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Artists in Schools program is currently on hold as we await approval from the Shoreline School District to continue in-school activities.
The Artists in Schools program places professional teaching artists into Pre-K through 12th-grade classrooms in the Shoreline School District. The goal is to enhance arts education experiences by establishing environments in which students can learn creatively. Teaching artists collaborate with classroom teachers to create projects that allow students to explore the areas of visual arts, music, and theater, as well as to connect the arts to core curricular subjects.
ShoreLake Arts has decades of experience creating arts education programs at schools within the Shoreline School District and actively works in coordination with teachers to develop lessons for a wide variety of subjects that are capable of meeting the unique needs of each partner classroom. Check out the sample lessons below!
Are you interested in finding out more about the Artists in Schools program, or partnering with ShoreLake Arts to bring a project into your student's classroom? Simply email Dr. Jonathan Booker, Arts Education Coordinator, at artsed@shorelakearts.org.
What are kids saying?
Presley, Grade 5
“I am working on social skills and teaching skills…important to develop social skills so that you can communicate with other people. I may not be the best at art, but I sure love doing it!” [Through the Artists in Schools program]
Kate, Grade 5
“The best part about having an artist visit the classroom is the education that comes with teaching the art projects. We get to learn so much about famous artists and their work and it’s so much fun!… We learn crowd control and we have a very talkative class, so this is proving to be a very useful skill!”
Alex, Grade 5
“Our teacher has come up with a list of themes- health and nutrition, self-portraits and still life. Ms. Nataliya, our Teaching Artist creates a lesson on that theme. It makes us feel connected as a class. I love art for this reason and I hope you see now that your money is going toward a good cause.”
No Boundaries
Artist
Alan King
The No Boundaries project allows students to work with multimedia artist Alan King, who because of the effects of cerebral palsy, paints using his feet. Speaking with a communication device, Alan discusses how art can be a powerful medium for expressing human emotion and demonstrates his brilliant and unique approach to painting. A group of both general education and highly capable students build bonds of friendship and understanding as they work together to create their own landscape paintings with their feet. At the end of the project, students reflect on what they learned about artistic expression, things that a person with a disability can do, and how creativity can be a common thread for all.
Grade Level(s)
4
The Art of Exploring the Past
by Writing Historical Fiction
Artist
Christine Pinto
The Oregon Trail comes alive as students imagine themselves into the nineteenth century with hands-on, sensory-rich activities. Christine comes to the classroom dressed in the clothes of the time. She brings artifacts for students to handle, music to listen to and sing along with, clothing to try on, games to play, and language of the time to experiment with. Examples of vivid historical fiction are shared and discussed. Students then write their own short historical fiction passages, letters, songs, or diary entries, using their experiences in class to inform their work. They learn the need for sensory input, careful selection of relevant details, and thinking into the perspective of persons from the past.
Grade Level(s)
4
HABITAT
Artist
Ruth McRee
“Habitat” takes your second graders on an in-classroom adventure that challenges them to solve problems and collaborate for survival. The adventure begins with a shipwreck from which they struggle to a deserted island and have to find the basics for human survival. As the week of sessions unfolds, students discover that in addition to air, fresh water, shelter, and food, they must build community and cooperate for the good of all. Their last sessions deal with pollution on the island. They must care for the land if they want to save their Island Home. The week concludes with a celebration of their commitment to community and the environment through creation of a folkdance that tells the story of “the founders” first coming to the island.
Grade Level(s)
2
Sample Artists in Schools Projects
Explore Cuba:
A Celebration of Rhythm, Dance, Songs, and Culture
Artist
Laura Dean
Students explore Cuban culture through rhythm instruments, dance, and folksongs. Students experience a variety of Cuban art forms from Rumba and Salsa dancing to the drumming and singing of the Yoruba, an Afro-Cuban tradition. Laura enhances the residency with personal travel narrative, photos/videos, and Cuban instruments. The class includes live accompaniment on the piano/keyboard and guitar along with a variety of recordings. Residency culminates in a casual class performance at the end of the week.
Grade Level(s)
K-8