Creative Connections’ award winning international exchange program designed for 3rd – 12th grade classes.
Students create art pieces that reflect their life and culture, and exchange their work with a partner class in another country. Students then examine and enjoy the art from overseas, gaining new insights into both their own and their partner’s cultures. Finally, students share their insights with one another through response forms and/ or an interactive video conference (IVC). Please find more information below on the IVC tab.
We have broken out the curriculum into sections from lessons to forms and more. In addition, we created simple brief tutorials for many of the lessons and for this year’s theme, to be used by our teachers and their students.
We look forward to adapting and expanding this online platform based on feedback we receive from our teachers around the world.
To learn more, please contact Polly Loughran at ploughran@creativeconnections.org.
- 2020-21 Theme
- Program Updates 2020-21
- EducatorsConnect - NEW
- ThinkLink - NEW
- Student Break Activities - NEW
2020-21 Theme
Program Updates 2020-21
Launching in mid-October 2020
Fee reduction
- • Sliding scale based on need
- • Underwriting financial support available for USA classes, no fees for international classes
Flexible program calendar
Curriculum materials online
- • Virtual teacher training – Artlink lessons and best practices
- • LMS work sheets for teachers and students
Original student art pieces submitted digitally and exchanged digitally
EducatorsConnect - NEW
EducatorsConnect – A forum for our ArtLink teachers worldwide to meet and share their ideas and experiences and to learn from one another over Zoom calls.
To date, the CC team has facilitated 4 calls on topics such as the Covid-19 pandemic, its impact on our teacher’s communities and schools, what it means to teach global citizenship and social justice.
- • Virtual Professional Development opportunities
ThinkLink - NEW
Student Break Activities - NEW
Student Break Activities is our new toolkit for down time at home! Designed to be engaging, educational and entertaining!
Find it here!
More information on ArtLink with Interactive Video Conferencing (IVC):
After receiving the art, students participate in a live one-hour session in which they share their insights with one another face-to-face in real time.
This fully facilitated interactive video conference (IVC) is available for an additional fee.
October 2020: Program Launch
November/December: Create artwork and submit artwork and ADS
January/February 2021: Receive partners’ art digitally and International Children’s Art Portfolio posted online
March: Exchange responses, and/or IVC Interactive Video Conference) with partner class
Summer/Fall: Enjoy our International Children’s Art Exhibit (live and online)
An energized, motivated partner class and full contact information
Teacher handbook with comprehensive program guidelines and lesson plans
Our office staff, always available, for advice and support over the course of the program
A thoughtful set of art produced for your class by your partners
Our annual International Children’s Art Portfolio featuring art from many of our partner countries
All overseas shipping (via DHL)
Translation services as needed
Interactive Video Conferencing (IVC) facilitation
ArtLink’s student-based learning model reinforces classroom instruction in social studies, language arts, foreign language and the arts. Additionally, students build bridges with their peers, which promotes global competency and greater cultural understanding.
Program curricula is delivered through lesson plans available in English, Spanish and Japanese.
The unique partnerships that are formed through these exchanges serve to broaden world views – not just for students, but teachers and parents as well.
Students will gain global competency by:
- • Discovering the power of art to convey ideas
- • Attaining a new perspective into their own culture
- • Expanding their awareness, understanding and appreciation of the lives of their international peers
- • Learning cross-cultural communication skills through written and video exchanges
