Public School 99 school garden, 2005-06
During a 13-week arts-integrated residency, students in grades 3, 4, and 5 researched, planned and planted a school garden. Each grade level of these Talented and Gifted students designed a section of the garden.
3rd grade studied the solar system; their design reflects the structure of our solar system. 4th graders studied the human body; their plan reflects the backbone and internal organs; 5th graders studied pond biomes. The shapes and plants they chose reflect the structure of single cell organisms. Students wrote about their thinking process while designing the different sections, created color studies based on plant research and prepared the soil before they planted the tiny seedlings.
In response to a litter problem in the garden, they created posters that were laminated and tied to the garden fence. This garden is an example of the kind of real-world experience I present as an artist-in-residence, designing arts-integrated curricula.