Highlander Charter School x TLAD

@highlanderxtlad-blog

Student Teachers from RISD's TLAD program worked with Highlander Charter School fifth graders as they explored their roles as artists, designers, scientists, inventors, and anthropologists. Students sculpted meals, drew creatures inspired by microscopic textures, manipulated light around three dimensional sculptures, and developed thoughtful "Windows into their Culture" in the form of tunnel books. Arts have the ability to develop creative potential, celebrate individuality and promote scientific inquiry.

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#microscopecreatures

That they have craftsmanship.

#studentquotes

Ms. B demonstrating how to construct each frame of our tunnel books and Ms. Miller facilitating a discussion about how Frida Kahlo expresses her identity through imagery in her work.

#windowsintoculture

A few of the finished Tunnel Books! There was so much detail and thoughtful reflection in all of these pieces, viewers can spend a lot of time examining these:)

#windowsintoculture

The brainstorming and sketching process is messy but SO important. Here are students reflecting on different ideas, sketching, and gathering source materials for inspiration

#windowsintoculture

Windows into Culture

Students learned that artists often include elements of identity and tradition in their work to celebrate and illustrate their unique culture. For Highlander Charter School’s “Culture Week” students created three dimensional tunnel books that reflected important places, activities and people in their lives. Students were challenged to use three pages or layers in the construction of their scenes using a Foreground, Middle ground and Background. We all learned how much work book-making can actually be and how valuable it is to reflect on your identity.

#windowsintoculture

#microscopiccreatures

Adding texture!

#microscopiccreatures

One thing I learned was to never give up.

#studentquotes #microscopiccreatures

Students begin to design their creatures

#microscopiccreatures

RISD MAT Casey Miller, introducing the lesson. Showing students how some artists are inspired by textures found in nature.

#microscopiccreatures

Microscope Creatures

A lesson of art integration exploring how artists can be inspired by nature. Students use microscopes, slides, and specimen to study different textures. By finding inspiration from one or multiple specimen they then created their own creatures. Students were excited by the natural creatures and combine many features using their creative skills.

#microscopiccreatures