KINDERGARTEN | JES, CES, WES, MMES
Dancing Alphabet
pARTners collaborated with Dancers’ Workshop to teach kindergarteners the letters of the alphabet through dance and visual art.
“It has been so rewarding to have seen all my children perform in the Dancing Alphabet! A true kindergarten rite of passage.”
– Buffy Allan, parent and TCSD #1 teacher
1ST GRADE | JES, CES, WES, MMES
Learning about Light through Kaleidoscopes
Students worked with pARTners artists to construct and decorate their own kaleidoscopes. This creative project supports their science standard on how light reflects off different surfaces. They also learned that the smaller the angle, the more reflection they observe in their kaleidoscope.
1ST GRADE | MMES
Atmospheric Animals
Students explored texture and color by drawing and coloring various animals with Sharpies, and transposing them onto watercolor backgrounds. Students practiced their drawing skills, experimented with different coloring techniques, and created a balanced composition where a subject stands out against a background.
“I love this new 1st project! A great STEAM project for our students to learn about the properties of light. My class loved making the kaleidoscopes.”
– Jen Fischer
1st Grade Teacher at JES
2ND GRADE | MMES, CES, JES
Parfleches and the importance of Buffalo in Native Cultures
Eugene Ridgebear, the Culture Resource Specialist of the Northern Arapahoe Tribe, visited 2nd grade classrooms to teach the vital role that the buffalo plays in native cultures. He shared various items (tools, clothes, parfleches, ceremonial items) that the tribes make using the buffalo. Students then created their own parfleche (carrying container) with Arapahoe symbols.
2ND GRADE | JES
Tipi Education and Art
Eugene Ridgebear, the Culture Resource Specialist of the Northern Arapahoe Tribe, visited 2nd graders at Colter Elementary to talk to the students about the form and function of tipis. First, students made small watercolor tipis to practice the creative art-form specific to the Northern Arapahoe culture. They then worked in small groups with pARTners artists to decorate larger canvas tipis based on native symbols and stories they had written.
2ND GRADE | WES, MMES, CES
Wyoming Topographic Maps
Students created a 3-D topographic map of Wyoming and Teton National Park to identify and learn about the physical features and landforms of the state and region.
2ND GRADE | MMES
Torn Paper Landscapes and Animals
Students were tasked with creating landscapes using torn paper, without scissors. They learned how to collage and layer paper to add depth and texture to the background. Then, they learned to use shapes as a guide for drawing animals. Finally, they used markers and watercolors to make their animals bold and stand out in the landscape.
3RD GRADE | MMES
Holiday Gratitude Calendar
Students created gratitude calendars for their families to count down 8 things they were grateful for during the holidays. They decorated posters with stickers, cutouts, patterned paper, and tape. Then, they wrote what they were thankful for and put them inside small envelopes. This way, family members could open one for each of the 8 days.
“I loved this project because I was able to relax and be creative. I hope we can do it again in the future.”
– 4th Grade Student
4TH GRADE | JES, CES, MMES
Oregon Trail Flash Fiction and POP Art Inspired Watercolors
Students chose historical photos from the time of the Oregon Trail and wrote flash fiction letters representing life on the trail based on their primary resource. They then worked with an artist to create watercolor photo transfers inspired by POP Art.
4TH GRADE | JES, CES
Creating Fossils through Art
Students learned about different arts careers, with classroom visits from a local architect.
4TH GRADE | JES
Careers in the Arts
Students learned about different arts careers, with classroom visits from a local architect.
4TH GRADE | MMES
African Masks
Students created detailed paper mache masks representing various animals from the African ecosystem.
5TH GRADE | JES
Alebrijes
Students delved into Mexican folk art by designing surreal creatures inspied by a dreamlike realm. They utilized their creativity to conceptualize a unique creature, which they subsequently crafted using papier-mâché techniques and decorated with acrylic and glow-in-the-dark paints, enabling the sculptures to illuminate in the dark.
5TH GRADE | MMES
Variables in Art
Students used the Scientific Method to guide them through this visual art project by experimenting with different mediums.
“This project made me recognize the value of interdisciplinary thinking in helping students better understand important academic vocabulary terms.”
– ELYSE MOCK, MMES Art Teacher
6TH Grade | JHMS
Genius Hour
pARTners contracted a local filmmaker, writer, visual artist, and fashion designer to support students in their Genius Hour projects. Genius Hour (aska. Passion Project) is an education concept that allows students to choose and learn during a set period at school. The goal is to teach students to choose and learn during a set period at school. The goal is to teach independence and research a topic that interests them.
7TH Grade | JHMS
Screen Printing
Jay Berrones, an artist trained in Mexico, led 7th grade students through this traditional art-form. He is bilingual and had the ability to lead all students through the process, even students who just spoke Spanish. Students got the opportunity to screen-print t-shirts, bags, and stickers.
6-8TH Grade | JHMS
Endangered Species Chalk Art
Students created beautiful pieces of chalk art with several pARTners artists to highlight the importance of the Endangered Species Act. Through their artwork, they create awareness of what animals are considered endangered.
6-8TH Grade | JHMS
Eyes Project
This project was a whole school celebration to mark the end of WyTopp and give students an opportunity to de-stress. Students learned how to draw eyes and use shading, color, and other techniques to create depth and perspective. They explored the symbolism of eyes to better understand that there are multiple perspective in any situation.
9TH-12TH GRADE | JHHS
Ecology of the GYE Nature Journals
Ecology students collaborated with local artist Emily Boespflug to master the use of watercolors, colored pencils, and black ink for accurately depicting nature. Thanks to pARTners, each student received an artist’s sketchbook and various supplied. Emily guided the students in observing their surroundings and using the art materials to vividly bring their observations to life.
9TH-12TH GRADES
Artists Up Close
pARTners sponsors a series of professional artists from the community to lead students in mini-residencies.
“Art is a place for children to learn to trust their ideas, themselves, and explore what is possible.”
– MARYANN F. KOHL
