Art is taught by:

Alison Smith

For the 2022-2023 year, our art program is exploring a different country theme in art class each week as students ‘travel’ around all 7 continents. Students will be learning about art history, philosophy, culture, mediums, and techniques throughout the course of the school year. In addition, students will be given opportunities to experiment with their own ideas of art and self-expression by exploring various art-making materials and pioneering their own creation process through an abundant choice model. Alison is excited to be developing a versatile and inclusive definition of art with the students as they 'travel' to and study the art of various countries around the world.

Alison is passionate about giving all students real-world opportunities to receive art commissions and have their art shared with a wider audience. She has been fundraising throughout the year to bring new opportunities to students in the building. Stay tuned in to the art program instagram (@EagleArtProgram) and website (https://sites.google.com/view/eagle-art-program/home) to stay updated on the exciting things happening in the art room!

Our Colorado Visual Art Standards for Elementary students are:

1. Observe and Learn to Comprehend

2. Envision and Critique to Reflect

3. Invent and Discover to Create

4. Relate and Connect to Transfer

Students will work on all of the art standards throughout the year (including all standards in each lesson).

In addition to learning art skills in the classroom, Alison will also work with students on self-regulation strategies for the beginning portion of the class time. As Linda Ronstadt says, “Art is for healing ourselves, and everyone needs their own personal art to heal their problems”. Alison acknowledges that art practices require from students a great deal of introspection, self-expression, imaginative and critical thinking, self reflection, and focus. In order for students to be able to think in an artistic mindset, they need adequate skills and coping strategies which are not automatically known. Alison also recognizes that art-making is a practice which is considered therapeutic for many including our youngest humans. Students benefit greatly from having the opportunity to engage in art with freedom and support.

For the 2022-2023 school year, Sunrise will be introducing an art club on Mondays from 2:45-3:45 pm. Art club is open to grades 2-5. In the art club, students will get to make art and take on more leadership and curatorial roles within the art program. Students will get opportunities to experiment with their art making and test out new projects and materials before they are brought into the regular art classes. Students will get to work on 1 or more independent self-designed projects.

Note: For the 2022-2023 school year, Sunrise Elementary and Summit Elementary have a collaborative art program and share an art teacher.