
The classroom is a space for exploration and learning. It’s where the majority of our art education occurs, but with the arts frequently being underfunded and resources being restricted, the confines of a classroom can have its limitations. Art exists and functions far beyond the classroom, making experiential learning critical to gaining a well-rounded arts education.
The good news is that we live in an incredible city full of amazing art that anyone can experience! There is an endless variety of fun, accessible resources available for art teachers to bring to their students that allows them to experience the larger world of art. Here are five ways for art teachers to take their class outside the classroom.
Field trips are a classic way to incorporate more experiential education into your curriculum, and fortunately, Chicago is a city full of potential sites to visit! Museums like the Design Museum of Chicago, the Cultural Center, and the National Museum of Mexican Art always offer free admission. The Museum of Contemporary Art is free for visitors under 18 and Illinois teachers, and the Art institute is free for children under 14 as well as Illinois teachers and Chicago teens under 18. With ever-changing artists and exhibits, museums are always a great option for learning about various styles, mediums, and themes firsthand.
Museums aren’t the only way to experience art up close. The public art throughout the city provides students with a fantastic opportunity to see and feel the art that surrounds them, and unlike some museums, public art is always free and accessible to everyone. Check out some of the many sculptures like Agora, The Gentlemen, or Fountain of Time. You can also show your students some of Chicago’s best street art and murals. Viewing public art is a chance to see the impact art has on shaping the identity of a city and the ways in which that art reflects the identities of the people who live there. Art isn’t merely decorative; it’s representative.
You don’t necessarily need to go on an adventure to make unique art outside of the classroom. In fact, some of the best ideas can be cultivated from the comforts of home! There are a host of ways for students to use their surroundings to create art.
Encourage students to go out into nature for their next art project. Use outdoor materials like twigs, stones, or berries to make paint or unique textures. Y-shaped branches can be used to make looms. Students can even use the sounds they hear as inspiration to compose an image. If your surroundings aren’t exactly natural, no problem! Urban landscapes can be a great source of creativity. Students can make urban sketches, or take photographs and make collages.
Art can happen anywhere, and the home is no exception. Houses are teeming with found objects waiting to be used for sculptures or still lifes. Students can put together peculiar arrangements to photograph or even try to create backstories for the items they find.
If students are making art at home, why not get the whole family involved? Constantly working alone can lead to some serious artists’ block. Making art with family is a great way for students to get inspiration outside of the classroom while also spending time with loved ones.
Students can make art specifically focused on the theme of family using materials like new and old photos, letters, mementos, and stories. This can be a great chance to connect with and learn about previous generations, as well as learning about themselves.
Family art projects can also be focused on the process of creating art together regardless of the final product’s theme. Have students and their families participate in activities like “pass the drawing,” creating a painting or sculpture together, or making cards to exchange with one another. You can even do projects where family members each contribute an idea for the student to combine into a single art piece.
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