Art Connections

Art Connections is an interactive program developed by The Dayton Art Institute to help area educators promote the visual arts as an integral part of a comprehensive curriculum. The program is comprised of three unique components, aligned to the Ohio Academic Content Standards:

• ART CONNECTIONS: Discover the World
• ART CONNECTIONS: Discover America
• ART CONNECTIONS: Discover Writing

Discover the World and Discover America are designed for students in grades 4 through 6 and Discover Writing is designed for students in grades 7 through 9. Discover the World and Discover America involve one extended visit to the museum. During their visit to the museum, the students will:

• Examine in depth, art and art objects from a variety of cultures
• Participate in interactive gallery experiences
• Research the art of these artists and cultures using materials in Traveling Trunks or Art Packs in their classrooms
• Participate in an art-making workshop facilitated by visiting artists
• Discover Writing participants work with a writer-in-residence in the museum’s galleries

As a classroom extension of the program, students will create a PowerPoint about their chosen culture or time period to submit for posting on the museum’s website.

The Discover the World participants will tour western and non-western galleries to examine and discuss works of art that represent 10 countries or cultures from around the world, including: Africa, Egypt, Oceania, Japan, China, India, Greece, Pre-Columbian, 16th and 17th century Europe, and 18th and 19th century Europe.

The Discover America participants tour the American galleries to examine and discuss works of art that represent nine time periods in American History, including: Native American, Colonial America, 19th century America, Turn of the century, Early 20th century, Modernism, Post World War II, Contemporary America and a special section on the State of Ohio.

The Discover Writing program involves one visit for teachers and one when they bring their students. During the first visit teachers come for a two-hour workshop with Dr. Nancy Mack, Professor of English from Wright State University, where they learn and practice a variety of exercises designed to enhance student writing. Teachers take an Art Pack which contains high quality reproductions of five works from the museum’s collection and a manual with writing activities and prompts back to the classroom. During the second visit with the students, they will participate in a docent-led tour and work with a writer in the museum doing a variety of writing exercises in response to the art. After returning to school, related writings by the students may be submitted for possible publication on the museum’s website.

Click here to read selected student writing

For information about how to participate, please contact Mary Beth Whitley, at (937) 223-5277, ext. 335 or e-mail mwhitley@daytonart.org.

Download Ohio Academic Content Standards (PDF):
English
Social Studies
Visual Arts