Students at schools across Prince Edward Island are learning from local artists through the Canada-wide ArtsSmarts program.
ArtSmarts injects arts into core academic subjects such as math, languages, social studies, and science by bringing artists into the classroom to share their skills and talents. The artists work with teachers to integrate arts disciplines like visual and literary arts, dance, music, and theatre into students’ lessons.
“Engaging our young people in artistic activity helps them evolve into creative thinkers,” Education, Early Learning and Culture Minister Doug Currie said. “ArtsSmarts uses the arts to ignite students’ excitement to learn, and to inspire collaboration between artists and educators in giving our students the best educational experience we can.”
ArtsSmarts is providing 268 students at eight Island schools the opportunity to learn through the arts during the 2016-17 school year. As projects are carried out, students, teachers and artists can share their experiences with all Islanders on social media with the hashtag #ArtsSmartsPEI.
ArtsSmarts is a program of the Department of Education, Early Learning and Culture and a provincial partnership involving the Confederation Centre of the Arts, Commission scolaire de langue française, the Public Schools Branch, Culture PEI, the PEI Crafts Council, the University of Prince Edward Island, the Human Rights Commission of PEI, the Fédération culturelle de l'Î.-P.-É., and the Eptek Centre.
Two year-end events will celebrate the ArtsSmarts projects that have been completed at Island schools. Titled “Open your Mind and Learn Through the Arts: A Year in Review,” they will be open to the public on May 18 at 6 p.m. at the Eptek Centre in Summerside and May 19 at 6 p.m. at the Confederation Centre of Arts Art Gallery.
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Media contact:
Jean Doherty
Education, Early Learning and Culture
902-368-6449
jmdoherty@gov.pe.ca
Backgrounder:
Eight Prince Edward Island schools are participating in ArtsSmarts:
Birchwood Intermediate School – grade 8 and 9 Late French Immersion
Teachers: Michelle Bernard and Jeff Dohoo
Project name: La société italienne de la Renaissance
Number of Learners: 26
Artist: Dina Blot
Curriculum Links: Social Studies, Late French Immersion and Visual Arts
Description of learning experience:
Learners will create a small figurine depicting a person from the Renaissance period. These figurines will stand approximately 16 inches and will be constructed using a wire frame and sculpted with tin foil and natural fabric with fibers/yarn for the hair. These figurines will be finished with pigment /acrylics using a dry brush technique or a patina. Each figurine is accompanied by descriptive text that demonstrates learner understanding of the actions of various social groups during the Renaissance, following their research on this historical period.
Kensington Intermediate Senior High School – grade 8 and 9 Late French Immersion
Teachers: Veronica d’Entremont
Project name: Le français en spectable
Number of Learners: 27
Artist: Mario LeBlanc
Curriculum Links: Late French Immersion - Oral comprehension, Oral presentation, Written compositions
Description of learning experience:
With the artist, Mario LeBlanc, learners will present a French oral production of original compositions to their family members and other students in their school. Through poetry, song writing and skits, learners will explore in French various components of a production, from costumes to publicity.
Montague Consolidated School – grade 5
Teachers: Edwena Arbuckle
Project name: Celebrating Canada and the P.E.I. Red Fox
Number of Learners: 24
Artist: David Trimble
Curriculum Links: Health, Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies (Interdependence and Time, Continuity and Change)
Description of learning experience:
Learners will individually create a 16 X 20 acrylic portrait of the Prince Edward Island red fox identifiable in is natural habitat. As students are working on these individual portraits, they will also be creating and preparing documentation to request that the Prince Edward Island Legislative Assembly adopt the red fox as the provincial animal. A request to amend the Provincial Emblem and Honors Act naming the Red Fox as the provincial animal will leave a legacy for the celebration of Canada’s 150th. In order to emphasize the importance of the red fox on Prince Edward Island learners will request assistance from the Montague Town Council for the distribution of the 25 portrait exhibit to P.E.I.’s 25 municipalities.
Stratford Elementary School – grade 5
Teachers: Jo-Anne Laningan and Suzanne Fitzpatrick
Project name: Art en movement
Number of Learners: 24
Artist: Lucie Bellemare
Curriculum Links: Language Arts, Math, Science, Health, Art, Music, Physical Education, Communication and Technology.
Description of learning experience
Learners will create a 3D paverpol sculpture relating to individual creative stories. Ultimately they will choose the moment in the story that is the climax and changes the story. They will capture a moment in time and create a fabric sculpture. Learners will work with the artist to explore the subject and its movements and capture the moment through their paverpol creation.
Birchwood Intermediate School – grade 9
Teachers: Patsy McDonald and Kelly O’Brien
Project name: Rejuvenate and Create
Number of Learners: 24
Artist: Linda Packard Shaw
Curriculum Links: Language Arts, Math, Fine Arts, Social Studies and Personal Growth to enhance self-esteem.
Description of learning experience:
The Rejuvenate and Create project is the Celtic symbolism for the birch tree. During this experience, learners will explore the prospect of integrating the birch tree to represent their school to enhance the learning experience. A series of paintings will depict birch trees in each season. Learners will also compose and present poems relating to the symbolism of the season.
Queen Charlotte Intermediate School – grade 9
Teachers: Sylvia Andrew
Project name: A Taste of Improvisation
Number of Learners: 61
Artist: Rowan Fitzgerald
Curriculum Links: Music (individual composition and presentation, creating impromptu music compositions)
Description of learning experience:
Learners will perform in small groups in the Jazz genre. Each learner will create an impromptu solo over a rhythm section. Through this process, learners will develop confidence to organize their own combos and put together a piece for a performance.
Birchwood Intermediate School – grade 7
Teachers: Frances Ann Squire
Project name: Creating Characters: Clay-making and the Writing Process
Number of Learners: 40
Artist: Jessica Hutchinson
Curriculum Links: Language Arts, Health, Social Studies and Technology
Description of learning experience:
Creating Characters: Clay-making and the Writing Process is a dynamic art-inspired approach to writing that integrates visual and kinesthetic modes of thinking prior to engaging in the writing process. Learners will incorporate art or illustrations upon completion of their writing. Their clay sculptures will become an inspiration for their poetry or narratives. Character development and imagination will play a significant role in their creativity and story-telling ability.
Southern Kings Consolidated School – grades 5 and 6
Teachers: Tammy Cann and Karla Matheson
Project name: My Community
Number of Learners: 42
Artist: David Trimble
Curriculum Links: Language Arts, Social Studies and Art
Description of learning experience:
The My Community project will permit learners to inquire into why events, people and ideas are significant to our history and how things have changed and will evolve over time. A large collaborative art piece will be developed to demonstrate the students’ findings and create a visual describing the past, the present and the future.