From Dorothea Lange to Degas: Green Cluster Researches Prominent Artists

In January, Green Cluster Room 703 held an artist research project gallery walk. Each student researched an important artist from the past to learn more about their life and work. After taking comprehensive notes, drafting outlines, and writing a multi-paragraph research essay, students then created a piece of art that represented their artist. For their gallery walk, they invited both peers and staff to stop by the classroom and hear from the students as each of them gave a brief presentation with a few facts about their artist. Co-Teacher Zoe Carril has a background in art history; this project was inspired by her desire for the students to learn more about famous artists, while also strengthening their writing skills.

The students went through the process of taking notes by first using colored tape to highlight important information about their artist in the book they were using to do their research. This helped the students connect different themes to different colors and aided their information-gathering process, which would then help them in creating an outline for their essay. After the transition to creating an outline, the students also spent time discussing thesis statements, and how they help state the purpose of their essay. As Co-Teacher Alyssa Tucker noted, this was the students’ first time writing a true thesis statement, so the project helped them grow as writers and start delving into more robust writing structures.

The students were very invested in the project and the art that they were going to be making. Ms. Carril said, “I was really impressed when I asked, ‘Does anyone need help brainstorming or want to talk about ideas?’ and every student knew what they wanted to do.” Ms. Tucker added that a few of the students even mentioned to her that during winter break their parents had taken them to an exhibit or museum that featured a piece of art from their artist, or that some students had taken home their essays over the break to show their extended family during the holidays. The co-teachers were so proud of their students, and saw that the students were proud of themselves too. They were excited to have the gallery walk and be able to show their peers in the Green Cluster and other clusters the work that they had done, and it allowed them to really feel pride in what they can do.