by Ashley Lodato Education Director, Methow Arts In a unit that combined plant biology with field journalling, sketching, and botanical watercolors, Okanogan 5th graders observed, studied, drew, and painted plants and vegetation native to the Okanogan region. First, students worked with longtime Okanogan teacher and artist Jim Anderson to design and construct field journals using… [Read More]
May 2018
What do you get when you put 7 teaching poets in a high school? You get Poetry Week, that’s what. “If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know that is poetry.” ~ Emily Dickinson The brainchild of Liberty Bell Junior/Senior High School’s English department, Poetry Week (May… [Read More]
Sat, June 9, 10-2pm, 2018
CRITTERS IN THE RIVERS Partnership blends art and environmental education for interdisciplinary learning An original block print design by Methow Valley sixth grade student Dalton Evans will be featured on t-shirts commemorating the 2018 Methow Kids’ Free Fishing Day, which is part of National Fishing and Boating Week. Additional designs were chosen to be featured… [Read More]
Arts Education Spotlight
by Ashley Lodato, Education Director Using sketching and acrylic painting techniques fourth grade students at Methow Valley Elementary School created still life compositions through a Methow Arts Artist-in-Residence program. Teaching artist Deirdre Cassidy showed students a diversity of examples throughout art history and taught them about the nature of the content in still life compositions.… [Read More]
Winter 2018
by Ashley Lodato, Education Director In March, Methow Valley Elementary 5th grade students explored the “Who We Are” unit of the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework through a collage residency with Methow Arts teaching artist Annie Venable. The concept was originally developed by 5th grade teachers Jennifer Duguay and Catie Barber working with teaching artist Hana… [Read More]
Arts Education Spotlight
TEACHER COMMENTS FROM SUPAMAN PERFORMANCE Overall, how would you describe the performance? We could not have asked for a more relevant meaningful presentation for our student body. He had a great message, related to the kids well, and showcased the Native American culture in a positive way. Wonderful performance – relevant to our population –… [Read More]
Winter 2018
by Ashley Lodato Education Director, Methow Arts Alliance When do you get to see the Methow Valley Elementary School art room filled with eagles, cougars, rattlesnakes, herons, and black widows? Second graders know the answer to this–when Trish Rouse visits the school, that’s when. Rouse, a Mazama-based artist and teaching artist, has been leading papier-mâché residencies for… [Read More]
Winter 2018
In 2015, Washington became the second state (after Montana) to require Native American Studies as part of a public school education, but offered few resources toward delivering a tribal curriculum; schools were simply directed to “Collaborate with federally recognized Indian tribes within or neighboring district boundaries” and to teach a tribal sovereignty curriculum. Virginia Grainger… [Read More]