Listed below are the various component areas of the ArtLink program and the related specific U.S. national educational standards for language arts, social studies, visual arts, and mathematics. The standards here are listed by subject area and national standard identification number. Relevant grade levels are indicated in parentheses following each standard (i.e. K-12 = kindergarten through grade 12).
* United States national educational standards were developed by national education organizations for the major subject areas. We are sure you will find them comparable to your own local educational standards and requirements. Complete U.S. national standards are listed online at the Education World Web site (www.educationworld.com/standards).
Discuss the concept of culture with your class. Ask them what they think culture is, and together, formulate a definition.
Through the introductory workshop, your students can build vocabulary and engage in collaborative learning, high-order thinking, and decision-making. The conversation can also be linked to the geography, history, and cultures of your partner classroom.
Language Arts-English
#4 Communication skills (K-12)
#7 Evaluating data (K-12)
#9 Multicultural understanding (K-12)
#12 Applying language skills (K-12)
Social Sciences-Civics
#4 Other nations and world affairs (K-12)
Social Sciences-Geography
#1 World in spatial terms (K-12)
#2 Places and regions (K-12)
#5 Environment and society (K-12)
Social Sciences-U.S. History
#1 Living and working together in families and communities, now and long ago (K-4)
#2 History of students' own state or region (K-4)
#4 History of peoples of many cultures around the world (K-4)
#10 Contemporary United States (5-12)
Ask your students to list the kinds of objects and scenes that would tell the most complete story about their culture. Have students discuss with one another how the visual scenes they will depict communicate ideas and stories to viewers. Have them outline the ideas and stories that they would like to share the most.
This activity builds critical thinking skills and encourages students to look at art from a holistic perspective.
Arts-Visual Arts
#3 Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas (K-12)
#4 Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and culture (K-8)
Ask your students to think about the idea they want to communicate to their partner class and the image they want to create. Then ask them to consider the available materials and think about how each material will or will not help them express their idea.
By choosing their materials your students exercise decision-making and problem-solving skills. Such self-directed and personally relevant learning actively engages students and contributes to the development of these key skills.
Arts-Visual Arts
#1 Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes (K-12)
#2 Using knowledge of structures and function (K-12)
Mathematics - Reasoning and Proofs
#3 Appropriate strategies to solve problems (K-12)
Involving your class in choosing what dimensions or range of dimensions to use for their artwork provides an excellent opportunity for them to apply their math skills to a "real-world" experience. This problem can be introduced in a number of formats such as a word problem or a chart comparing the weight and dimensions of a package versus the cost to ship it.
Mathematics-Number and Operations
#1 Understand numbers, ways of representing numbers, relationships among numbers, and number systems (K-8) #2 Understanding meanings of operations and how they relate to one another (K-8) #3 Compute fluently and make reasonable estimates (K-8)
Mathematics-Geometry
#4 Use visualization, spatial reasoning, and geometric modeling to solve problems (K-12)
Mathematics-Measurement
#1 Understand measurable attributes of objects and the units, systems, and processes of measurement (K-12)
#2 Apply appropriate techniques, tools, and formulas to determine measurements (K-12)
Mathematics-Reasoning and Proof
#3 Appropriate strategies to solve problems (K-12)
Guide your class in developing a rubric that details specific criteria with levels of achievement or mastery. Rubrics can be tailored for individuals or groups based on skill levels and expectations. Students can use this as a guide to create high-quality work. Then, finished pieces can be self-assessed and/or peer-assessed using the completed rubric. Students can also discuss and compare their assessments.
Actively involving students in the assessment process can build upon decision-making, higher-order thinking, and communication skills.
Arts-Visual Arts
#5 Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others (K-12)
Through the artist description sheet, your students not only gain insight into the culture and individual personalities of their partner class, but by writing their own description they expand their ability to introspect. Encourage your students to write in a lively, conversational tone, which will lend a personal quality to their description and engage them in expressive writing. This activity develops the key skills of gathering and interpreting data, organizing information, drawing conclusions, and written communication.
Included on the next two pages are an artist description sheet template and a sample of how one artist filled it in. Feel free to photocopy the blank template for each of your artists to use, or they can design their own. In any case, encourage your students to write in a lively, conversational tone. The artist's photo can be glued or taped right on the sheet.
Language Arts-English
#4 Communication skills - verbal and written (K-12)
#5 Communication Strategies (K-12)
#6 Applying knowledge (K-12)
#12 Applying language skills (K-12)
Social Sciences-U.S. History
#1 Living and working together in families and communities, now and long ago (K-4)
#2 History of students' own state or region (K-4)
#3 History of the United States: democratic principles and values and the peoples from many cultures who contributed (K-4)
#4 History of peoples of many cultures around the world (K-4)
#10 Contemporary United States (5-12)
To complete the ArtLink exchange, you class is required to send their responses to their partner's art. To encourage discussion, you may want to arrange the class or each small group into a circle. You (or the facilitator) should be part of this circle. This activity engages your students in gathering data, making connections, and drawing conclusions.
Language Arts-English
#3 Evaluation strategies (K-12)
#7 Evaluating data (K-12)
#9 Multicultural understanding (K-12)
Social Sciences-Geography
#4 Human systems (K-12)
#5 Environment and society (K-12)
Social Sciences-U.S. History
#1 Living and working together in families and communities, now and long ago (K-4)
#4 History of peoples of many cultures around the world (K-4)
Social Sciences-World History
#9 20th century since 1945: promises and paradoxes (5-12)
Arts-Visual Arts
#3 Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas (K-12)
#4 Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and culture (K-12)
#5 Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others (K-12)
#6 Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines (K-12)
Try providing your students with a response sheet to guide their writing. The response sheet can include key questions you want them to consider about the artwork. Questions could include their thoughts about: use of colors, textures, and media; similarities and differences between their cultures; or an unanswered question for the artist. You can recommend or require that students select a specific number of these responses to include in their letter to the artist.
Language Arts-English
#4 Communication skills (K-12)
#5 Communication strategies (K-12)
#6 Applying knowledge (K-12)
#9 Multicultural understanding (K-12)
#11 Participating in society (K-12)
#12 Applying language skills (K-12)
Have your class write a collective letter to a local newspaper. By writing a collective letter, students are exposed to working collaboratively and gain experience in written communication, while engaging in an authentic task. The chance to appear in the news adds a motivating dimension and will increase the impact of this task.
Language Arts-English
#4 Communication skills (K-12)
#5 Communication strategies (K-12)
#6 Applying knowledge (K-12)
#11 Participating in Society (K-12)
#12 Applying Language Skills (K-12)