Check out how our high school art students connected with some first graders at SES this fall!
Imagine taking a child’s vibrant crayon drawing of a fantastical creature and transforming it into a sculpture. That is exactly what Miss Wade’s WHS sculpture class did with Miss Painter’s 1st grade class. This process not only validated their creativity but also introduced the older children to the exciting world of art-making for an audience. It taught my high school students about materiality, form, and dimension, while allowing the 1st grade class the experience of the thrill of seeing their imagination take shape in a way they never thought was possible.
The journey from drawing to sculpture is a collaborative and transformative experience. First, we gathered the children’s monster drawings and engaged in conversations about their creations as a class and how to create a dimensional object.
This hands-on experience offers numerous benefits for both grade levels. For the elementary level it enhanced fine motor skills and boosted their self-esteem as children witnessed their artwork come to life. Validating their creative process, reinforcing the idea that their ideas are valuable and worthy of exploration.
Then for the high school students it encouraged problem-solving and the process of how to create artwork for an audience. The students learned how this can translate into future careers such as making maquettes for bigger companies.
By making sculptures from the children’s drawings, we did not just create art; we built a bridge between imagination and reality, fostering creativity, confidence, and community within Selma.
The students were so excited to engage together and share the final outcome, they were even counting down the days! Thank you to everyone who supported this and Miss Painter who is also a very ambitious first year teacher who was willing to accomplish this.
- Katelyn Wade
WHS Art Teacher
