Evenings for Educators is the museum’s monthly teacher development program. Each event features two teachers (one Elementary and one Secondary) who create and implement a lesson plan in their classroom. Attendees get a copy of that lesson plan in their folders the night of the program and also have the chance to ask the Museum Teachers questions. Each lesson references artwork from the museum’s permanent collection, ties into the theme of the program and incorporates visual art with another discipline. Please enjoy this sneak peek of the Secondary Lesson plan by March 2018 Museum Teacher Liz Lloyd.

Women History Month is one that I’ve never really focused on during the month of March, but this year I wanted to try something different. I looked to visual artists past and present for inspiration. Unlike what I’ve done in the past, I looked to 3-dimensional artists primarily sculptors and ceramicists who have done innovative things. Judy Pfaff’s use of wire and found objects and Ana England’s thematic ideas around nature and space were both fascinating. I wanted to use these two women to challenge my students to think deeper and problem solve as they built and designed their own works of art. From installations to ceramic tiles, students were exposed to these two women in a way that inspires and gets the wheels in their brains turning versus having them look for an idea from pop culture like we usually do with most projects. I was impressed with how my students thrived and jumped right into both projects. It was amazing! Students had to choose specific roles that they wanted to take on for the installations. Students became leaders, assemblers and builders. In order to be inspired by Ana England’s space and oceanic work, they had to be open to trying something new. It was fascinating to watch them create something from a blank slab and no planning. Or to make two different installations that are now hanging in our school. It was such an exciting experience! I will definitely do this more often, not only to challenge my students but to challenge myself as well.