School-based Programs
&
Field Trips at Art Play Learn
We offer a wide variety of integration programs for every grade level, including Professional Development. Our Programs can be booked directly or through our partner, Arts Every Day.
Self-Body State
This Zoom-delivered workshop helps students identify their feelings and express them through placing watercolors intuitively on a paper body, allowing them to better manage feelings of stress and COVID PTSD. Students are guided in clearing the mind with breath work, then given a “body outline” template in which to do creative self-expression via a series of prompts. Upon completing the exercise, a brief discussion on any insights or thoughts that arise will be guided by the instructor. The value of using watercolor is that it has a spontaneous flow to it due to its’ semitransparent, glassy feel. It is an excellent medium for revealing the emotional state in the moment. Brief discussion of color therapy is included. Each session can accommodate 9 students at a time. Classes with more than 9 students should book the program to be delivered in cohorts of up to 9 students over several days or on the same day of the week over several weeks.
Materials provided: Body outline template, watercolor sets, paintbrushes
Optional additional materials provided by school/student: colored pencils, markers
Healing Postcards
Participants are guided in a simple yet effective exercise involving journal writing, and contemplative painting with watercolors. Students will learn the therapeutic value of self-expression while gaining a new perspective on a stressful event or person in their lives. This is an excellent exercise to aid in conflict resolution or any internal struggle that may be troubling to individuals. The process involves encouraging students to first focus, then jot down thoughts and details regarding the difficult person or event in a letter-like form, on a postcard. They are encouraged to lightly paint over their words and then add a sprinkling of salt, in order to witness the situation “dissolve” right before their eyes. This assists in reducing the power of intense feelings that arise, therefore releasing students of the burden they have been carrying.
Materials needed: watercolor paper (cut to postcard size) watercolor sets, paintbrushes, 1 teaspoon of table or rock salt
Recycled Art: Paper Animals
Students use developmentally appropriate strategies for studying animal features. Younger Elementary students focus on differences between, fur and feathers, beaks and noses, legs and fins, etc. Upper Elementary focuses on more specific traits and start to delve into the Biology Classification System. Middle School focuses on inherited traits. High School focuses on Bioengineering. Younger students read Children's books and sing songs about animal features. All students create an animal paper sculpture using a combination of media, including paint, and recycled paper/cardboard. Younger students choose from pre-cut shapes. Older students cut their own shapes from a variety of provided materials.
Storybuilding
Students use techniques created from the point of view of an actor to build a story one element at a time. This workshop gets kids moving, drawing, and painting and culminates in publishing their own book. Hard copies of an anthology for each class or each individual book can be pre-ordered and sold as a fund raiser for the school.
Physics of Light & Color
Elementary & Middle:
This 1-2 day residency/workshop or field trip immerses students in activities that give them a visceral understanding of light waves. Students will answer the questions: What is light?; What are the different kinds of light?; and What is color? At least one spectrum based art activity will help them make the connection between the physics and art. Combine with "Chemistry of Light & Color" for a longer residency.
High School:
This 1-2 day residency/workshop or field trip immerses students in activities that give them a visceral understanding of light waves. Students will answer the questions: What is light?; What are the different kinds of light?; and What is color? Students will conduct The Flame Test experiment. At least one spectrum based art activity will help them make the connection between the physics and art. High School Science standards (NGSS) HS-PS1-1, HS-PS4-1 are addressed. This seminar will engage students in understanding two main topics related to light and color: What is light and how does it relate to other types of waves? What is color and why do some things have colors and others don’t? Combine with "Chemistry of Light & Color" for a longer residency.
Chemistry of Light & Color
Elementary & Middle:
This 2-3 day residency/ workshop or all day field trip immerses students in activities that give them a visceral understanding of electrons and how they affect magnetism and which pigments absorb which light waves. Art actvities will give students the opportunity to connect the chemistry to art by having them create using various kinds of materials, such as mixing paints and/or "mixing colors" of light. Combine with "Physics of Light & Color for a longer residency.
High School:
This 2-3 day residency/ workshop or all day field trip immerses students in activities that give them a visceral understanding of electrons and how they affect magnetism and which pigments absorb which light waves. High School Science standards HS-PS1-1, HS-PS4-1, HS-PS4-4 are addressed. Art actvities will give students the opportunity to connect the chemistry to art by having them create using various kinds of materials, such as mixing paints and/or "mixing colors" of light. Combine with "Physics of Light & Color for a longer residency.
Perspsctives: Optical illusions and Whole History
This 3-day residency or full day field trip takes students through a multi-level understanding of perspective. Students begin by exploring perspective through Biological processes that allow us to see optical illusions and then travel through time to experience a new perspective of teh Civil War by reading real letters written by African American Freedom Fighters in the Civil War. Visual art activities tie together the science and optical illusions. Creative writing and theater activities tie together the connection between how our brains interpret information to form our perspective and will help students undertsand how to see the world through different perspectives.
Meredith Kaunitz
Master Integrator
Teresa Davis
Master Teacher & Contemplative Artist
Dr. Ann Miller
Chemist & Founder of Science is Elemental
Dr. Sherri Mehta
Expert in African American Literature