New World Kids at Smith Elementary
by Cassie Swayze, Programs Assistant
Earlier this month I had the privilege of visiting Christin Davis’ kindergarten and first grade classes at Smith Elementary. Using the New World Kids curricula this semester, Miss Christin’s students are exploring the sensory alphabet which includes:
- Line
- Shape
- Space, color
- Rhythm
- Light, sound
- Texture
- Movement
We discussed Color by learning what a collage is and making original collages out of magazines. Miss Christin invited me to speak briefly as an informal Guest Artist about my own collages. Then together we guided her students to create unique collages.
The kindergarten class created collages using one color: red race cars, brick buildings, and apples cut out of magazines combined to make new designs. Miss Christin’s class of first graders was prompted to illustrate something they did that day or how they were feeling. It was an opportunity to reflect while showing what they learned from our discussion of Color. There were a few collages that stood out: one student used only triangles to illustrate her collage while another explored different types of lines found in various magazines. It was interesting to see different parts of the Sensory Alphabet present in these images.
I learned that I can do whatever I want with my imagination.
As we wrap up this year, I am thrilled to see our New World Kids classrooms’ work this semester, including the collages we made at Smith, displayed in galleries at their respective sharings. The entire Sensory Alphabet will be represented in their galleries, an exciting exploration of creative thinking.
About Creative Action’s After School Program:
- 82% of students felt they could use art to express themselves
- 97% reported that they kept trying to figure things out until they understand them
