AGH: In-Class
Arts Based learning in the Classroom
AGH: In-Class is an innovative arts education program that partners teachers and local artists together to create dynamic arts-based projects in the classroom that engage students in the exploration of core subjects such as math, social studies, science, language arts and more, through dance, drama, visual art, film, photography, rap/spoken word and music. Students collaborate, think critically, problem solve and challenge each other as they develop a deeper understanding of each other, their community and their world.
Working with over 5,000 students, AGH: In-Class challenges the Art of Learning in significant ways:
- Curriculum – AGH: In-Class focuses on issue based, problem exploring, solution finding, curricular integration inspired by arts-based activities.
- Partnership – AGH: In-Class programming is designed to inspire Artist/Teacher collaboration.
- Professional Development – The Artist Educator’s 4 visits and Teacher partnership can be described as, “Job Embedded Professional Development,” for Teachers.
- Sustainability – Through student engagement and teacher transformation, AGH: In-Class Program’s differentiated instruction strategies become embedded in the school culture, improving communication, collaboration and critical thinking skills.
Project Information
Each Artist-Led Project will include:
- A collaborative orientation meeting to discuss; project outline, curricular connections and scheduling with the Artist Educator and Teacher.
- A brief welcome video, introducing the Art Gallery of Hamilton, the program, and a land acknowledgement.
- A Teacher/ Artist collaborative planning session.
- Customized arts-based Lesson Plan tied to curricular expectations.
- Four 60 minute – AGH: In-Class Artist Educator visits in the classroom.
- Hands-on, job-embedded professional development for teachers.
- Ongoing support between Artist-Educator visits and extension activities
- Teachers debriefing.
- 5th visit to the gallery – ½ day tour and art response activity now included in the AGH: In-Class package.
What We Do
- Collaborate with teachers to build cross-curricular lessons focused on exploring and problem-solving real-world issues through creative action.
- Activate your core curriculum through dance, song, painting, sculpture, film, music, acting, and more.
- Create personalized, inquiry-based learning environments to ignite student engagement and learning in both English and French.
- Deliver long-term, sustainable strategies that will positively impact the culture and community of your school.
FINDINGS:
- Students are highly engaged in learning during AGH: In-Class sessions.
- Students exhibit detailed recall of both the arts and curricular content following an AGH: In-Class session.
- Three times as many AGH: In-Class students reported they were happier to come to school.
- After witnessing the positive effects of AGH: In-Class, principals were almost unanimous in believing the arts is essential to children’s education.
“The program is amazing! I have been participant with various grades and each time the artists capture the interest of the students. Their enthusiasm and knowledge of their skill is evident and it is so nice to have the expertise in the classroom to inspire students. Always a pleasure to have in the classroom. Grade 7/8 Teacher, Hillcrest PS
“I learned about improvisation and creating characters from History. The program made me more confident. I wish it could be longer. – Simara, Grade 7
“This class was absolutely amazing. The whole class came together and that doesn’t happen very often.” Hamza, grade 7
“It made me want to come to school” Grade 8 student HWCDSB
Book Your Project
Book your project
For more information about Artist-Led Projects, contact Educational Outreach Manager Sara Dickinson at sdickinson@artgalleryofhamilton.com.
Cost: $1000.00 for a 4-visit session in the classroom plus a ½ day tour and interactive arts experience at the AGH. Over 7 hours of student engagement! Virtual programming is available.
Project Themes
Consider the following themes for your next Artist-Led Project:
Characters, Conflict, and the Art of Communication
Who am I, what’s my motivation, what’s the problem, and how do I solve it? All will be answered with actor & writer Melissa Murray Mutch. Through improvisation, character development, and scene work, students will explore conflict, learn the importance of listening, and practice empathy – skills that will help them to better understand themselves, each other, and their community.
Curriculum: Language, Drama, Social Studies, Social Justice
Grades 3-10
Character Education through Drama
Performance artist and therapeutic clown Jody Boston uses Yangsoo Choi’s book, The Name Jar, as inspiration to guide students through creative movement, choral speaking, and poetry writing as an expression of personal values.
Curriculum: Drama, Language, Poetry, Social Studies
Grades: 3-6
Documentary Filmmaking
Students will be guided through the process of creating mini documentaries on a chosen theme and will explore the basics involved in creating short photography-based films. Filmmaker and visual artist Vanessa Crosbie Ramsay will lead students on a creative journey exploring storytelling through imagery, inviting students to document their own experiences and community.
Curriculum: Language, Geography, Science, Social Studies, Social Justice
Grades: 5-10
Drawing Me, Drawing My Stuff, Drawing My Space
Inspired by the AGH Collection, visual artist Cornelia Peckart will inspire students to create artworks of familiar objects and spaces, building a visual diary of a specific time and place in their lives, utilizing personal objects found around the house.
Curriculum: Visual Art, Math, Environmental Issues, Social Justice
Grades: 3-10
Going Graphic
Students will explore the key elements of storytelling, character development, and drawing with visual artist Cornelia Peckart, who will guide them through composing their own comic strips inspired by a range of texts, from knock-knock jokes to news articles.
Curriculum: Visual Art, Language, Social Justice, Social Studies
Grades: 4-10
Imagine, Laugh, and Play through Drama – Synchronous Only
Performance artist and therapeutic clown Jody Boston takes students on a theatrical journey through movement, character exploration, storytelling, and theatre games inspiring students to explore, laugh, connect, and stretch their imaginations.
Curriculum: Language, Drama, Social Studies
Grades: K-3
Mini Zines and Dada Collage
Theatre artist, director, and designer Kelly Wolf explores Dada Collage and Zine Making using various materials, elements, and principals of design, leading students to create their own work combining imagination, language, and visual expression. Also available in French.
Curriculum: Visual Art, Language, Mixed Media, Social Justice
Grades: 3-10
Pop-Up Puppet Play
Acclaimed Hamilton musician Treasa Levasseur explores ways to make and give expressive life to puppets from ordinary household objects while
exploring point of view, role, character, and relationship through voice work, written, and improvised dialogue. Also available in French.
Curriculum: Language, Drama, Social Studies
Grades: K-5
Rap & Poetry
Hamilton musician Liam Tyndall (aka LT the Monk) teaches the various components of Rap and Poetry, using elements of rhyme scheme, wordplay, metaphor, and simile to guide students to write and perform a full verse or song of their own. Also available in French.
Curriculum: Language/Poetry
Grades: 5-10
Visual Communication through Photography
Filmmaker and visual artist Vanessa Crosbie Ramsay will inspire students to explore storytelling through creating photographic slideshows that include images, text, and music. Students will learn the basics of photography while exploring how language is interpreted and meaning is communicated through visual representations.
Curriculum: Visual Art, Language, Social Justice, Social Studies
Grades: 4-10
Water Colour Exploration
Visual artist Nancy Benoy inspires students to express themselves using watercolour (or any paints on hand), inspired by poetry, short stories, and works from the AGH Collection, while gaining an understanding of the role emotions play in artmaking.
Curriculum: Language, Visual Art, Health
Grades: K-10
From the Contemporary Art Collection
Redifice 1986
Michael Snow (Canadian b. 1929)
mixed media installation, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. David Birkenshaw, 1995