About the Project

Students face overwhelming stressors such as family pressures, academic challenges, and daily barrage of external concerns. This Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) project focuses on 5th grade students (and possibly 4th) who show an interest in art and want to learn more. The primary goal of the project is to offer students a safe outlet to express themselves in a positive way and expand their skills before they transition to middle school. The secondary goal is to help students see the connection between academic studies and art. The Arts Exploration Club will expose students to different fine arts media, digital artwork, and artists, as well as historical and cultural works of art. Sessions will include learning about the history of art (at the elementary level), cultural art, art techniques, and freely applying what they learn in their own art. They will have a chance to experiment with acrylics, watercolors, graphite pencils, charcoal pastels, mixed media, and clay. Students will also maintain a journal that will give them a resource to take notes, sketch ideas, and express their own opinions about art. At the end of the year, students will present their favorite pieces in an art show held in the community. By the end of the year, students will have developed basic skills in art, responsibility, and goal setting, as well as seeing a connection in what they learn academically to give them purpose for future studies.