ArtSmart Update

Spring 2008 Update

by Ann McGowan
Director of ArtSmart

Our next ArtSmart Professional Development Workshop is scheduled for June 30 and July 3 from 8:00 - 12:00p. We would like to invite all educators interested in learning how to include art education in the teaching of other curricular areas.  The cost is $99 for 16 hours of training including materials, 75 easy to use lessons on three cd's, and an individual Museum membership for one year.  One unit credit is available for $55 through Fresno Pacific College.

We are currently in the process of training the librarians of Orange Cove, Mendota, and Tranquility how to incorporate art into their library programs. They plan to have ongoing weekly art activities for the students to enjoy after school.  The librarians will use many of the 75 ArtSmart integrated lessons throughout the year.  The will also be using our Traveling Trunk Program which includes art lessons, books, videos and art works pertaining to different areas of Mexican culture.  The Fresno Art Museum will be sharing art for them to exhibit at their libraries along with the art done by the students. We are so happy to have an ongoing relationship with these vibrant libraries in our valley.

Winter 2008 Update

by Ann McGowan
Director of ArtSmart

The ArtSmart Program is very busy. We have finished our initial training at Orange Cove, our first “Museum School”. We will be heading back to Orange Cove several more times this year to demonstrate lessons in individual classrooms. The teachers are ordering supplies and posters to insure a successful art program this year. They will enjoy the easy to use lessons we have prepared and arranged on two CD’s of 25 lessons. We hope to have another CD ready this winter so we will have a total of 75 lessons for classroom teachers to use. The lessons address the California Visual Arts Standards as well as standards in the other curricular areas.

We are working on developing the Archaeological Dig Site at Scout Island. We will provide grade appropriate lessons to go along with the student’s experience on a dig. Third grade, focusing on local valley Indian tribes, will create a mortar and pestle. Fourth grade emphasis is on California so they will weave an Indian basket. U.S. history is the focal point in fifth grade. They will have fun making a dream catcher. Sixth grade will adventure into Pre-Columbian history. Their project will involve creating pottery from the period.

Our ArtSmart After School Program in Fresno Unified is doing very well. We are excited to see how many children our wonderful teachers are reaching on a daily basis. Thanks to the IMLS Grant we will be training the librarians of Tranquility, Mendota and Orange Cove so that they can teach art to the children that visit the libraries in those communities.

For more information about ArtSmart, contact:

Ann McGowan
Director of ArtSmart

Fresno Art Museum
559-441-4221 ext. 132
ann@fresnoartmuseum.org

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