ART OF LOOKING
ELEMENTARY STUDENT PROGRAM
The Art of Looking is a grant-funded Science & Art themed program at The Barnes Foundation that I designed, taught, and managed. The program served over 2,200 elementary aged students annually.
The Art of Looking program was originally conceived as a link to the institution’s founder, a scientist and educator. When I came on board, I could see the program’s potential and set out to make the curriculum deeper and richer. Through research into STEAM, arts-integration, and the inquiry-based teaching methodologies of our founder, I overhauled the program and created experiences that allowed for authentic student engagement with scientific and artistic thinking.
The Art of Looking program’s primary goal is to facilitate student engagement with art through a scientific lens. The grant-funded program consists of a pre-visit lesson in the classroom, a field trip to the Barnes Foundation, and a post-visit lesson. Each element is scaffolded to build and practice scientific investigation skills through project-based and gamified learning, inquiry-based teaching, and hands-on activities. We aim for every student to feel confident in their abilities to solve problems, generate ideas, and share their process.
The Art of Looking is an amazing experience. Students are introduced to paintings in a new and different way. Fifth Graders use art to problem solve, think critically, ask questions, and formulate opinions independently and collaboratively. They are able to view images through a new lens. They are exposed to different mediums, higher order thinking questions, and most importantly, they are talking about art with each other in an intelligent way. Students walk away from the Barnes Art of Looking Program with an artistic eye, a questioning eye, and an interested eye. I am thrilled that my students have been a part of this endeavor.
5th Grade Teacher, The Art of Looking
90%
of participating said that they were interested in integrating Art & STEM in their classroom after the Art of Looking program, increased from 40% prior to the program.
Formal evaluative study in the 2019-20 School Year
60%
of 5th grade students reported that they were interested in visiting the Barnes again after participating in the Art of Looking program.
Formal evaluative study in the 2019-20 School Year
The Art of Looking program was developed using thorough research into the latest developments in arts-integrated teaching methodologies. In writing the curriculum, I consulted with the School District’s science curriculum writer, a distinguished STEAM classroom educator, and a K-12 curriculum evaluation expert. The program is rigorously evaluated each year, either through an external evaluator or independently using recommended tools, and therefore the program is continuously evolving to meet the needs of our students and teachers.
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I have coordinated, managed, and taught the program for 7 school years, serving 2,200+ students in 30+ schools annually. This involves communicating individually with each participating teacher to schedule lesson and field trip dates, send critical information and reminders, and promote relevant institutional programming - then I get to deliver the content to students! The curriculum and my own teaching philosophies are intentionally flexible and responsive to each student’s participation.
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To manage the program, I work closely with the rest of the K-12 education team to compare school visit schedules, book the appropriate on-site spaces and resources to facilitate school visits, and collaboratively problem solve when barriers to success arise.
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More than anything, I designed and taught the Art of Looking program with the intention of bringing joy and curiosity into the classroom and the art gallery. My work with students in this program is something I am immensely proud of.
