Arts4Learning is a program created through community partnership. It is funded by the South Kitsap School District and through a Community Consortia Grant from the Washington State Arts Commission. Arts4Learning provides Arts4Kids instruction in Visual Arts and/or Dance during Wednesday Collaboration time at five elementary schools; Fall and Spring publication of the South Kitsap Visual Arts News; Monthly Masterpiece Moments communications; SKSD web site Visual Art Teaching Resources for teachers and community; professional development for teachers in Dance and Visual Art; and founding and development of a regional South Kitsap Arts Council. Also, SKSD is now a Seattle Art Museum Teacher Resource Center Satellite.

 

Practices That Promote Visual Art Learning in Schools and Classrooms

Student Sketch Journaling

• Sketchbooks can be constructed out of accessible inexpensive materials
• Drawing is a natural focusing task
• Observational drawing can enhance learning across all content areas
  
  Click here for resources: Sketch Book Starters        Sketch Book and Field Journal Ideas

Responding to Art

• Observing, analyzing and interpreting art enhances critical thinking skills
• Talking about art builds use of descriptive language
• Art reflects culture, history and concepts that are shared by content areas
  
  Click here for resource: Responding to Art in Your Classroom
   
• South Kitsap School District Fine Art Prints are available for loan to teachers.
  Please e-mail Kelly Wilcox at: wilcoxk@skitsap.wednet.edu to request prints to be
  sent to your school

          Click here for resource: Visual Directory of South Kitsap School District Art Prints

Student Art Exhibitions

• Student art can inspire whole communities
• Exhibiting student art advocates for teaching to the whole child
• Communicating about student art via exhibition wall text, letters, newsletters and school/teacher
  web-sites can educate about artistic process, concepts learned, depth of learning and connection across content areas

          Click here for resources: Exhibiting Student Art       Art Display Text and Communication Samples 

Art Supply Kits

• Art process or project-specific art supply kits make teaching art easier
• Ordering materials can be streamlined through documenting lists for and tracking kit supplies

          Click here for resources: Making Art Supply Kits      KCDA Art Materials List