In this hands-on workshop, attendees will explore mandala art as a meaningful K–12 art strategy that supports pattern, repetition, radial balance, symbolic imagery, and mindfulness. Attendees will paint a mandala stone design and collaborate on a group mandala arrangement while discussing classroom adaptations for grades K-12, connections to social-emotional learning, and creative expression. All supplies provided.
Through the use of observation and evidence-based interpretation, Visual Art Thinking Strategies (VTS) encourages students to learn to respect diverse perspectives and collaborate on collective meaning-making. Participants will practice using VTS to foster class discussions and learn about paid professional learning opportunities to further their VTS knowledge.
ArtEffect is a movement initiated by the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes. Through the Unsung Hero Project, students learn about individuals who had a significant impact on society, but haven't been acknowledged in history. Through art integration, students are able to explore the lives and contributions of these role models and bring their inspiring stories to light. Attendees will learn how to implement an ArtEffect unit in their classrooms and communities. Resources provided include lesson plans, group and individual activities for students, community outreach examples, and the Unsung Hero Directory.
Participants will explore how art, storytelling, and STEM intersect through the creation of illuminated paper circuit artwork using conductive tape and LED stickers from Chibitronics®. In this hands-on workshop, educators will design and build interactive artworks that literally “make their mark” by lighting up through simple circuitry concepts. Participants will learn foundational paper circuit techniques, experiment with creative design solutions, and leave with a completed light-up artwork and ideas for adapting the process across grade levels and content areas.
There’s no single “right” way to interpret an object. This session embraces creative-ish freedom through object-based learning strategies that encourage curiosity, open-ended inquiry, and multiple perspectives, helping educators create space for exploration, wonder, and student-driven meaning making.
The written word sparks students’ imagination and encourages them to see the world through a creative lens. Join us for this workshop as we open the books of our Keynote, Peter H Reynolds, and explore the possibilities for creating an engaging creative experience for our students, both young and old.
Come create a polymer clay Pocket Pal! Find out how we had our pre-K students and middle school students collaborate to design and create miniature creatures to support our little ones with their biggest feelings. Materials provided.
Explore the rich connections between artistic and scientific thinking in this interactive session. Through open-ended artmaking and reflective discussion, participants will examine how choice-based classrooms can function as both studios and labs, spaces of observation, experimentation, and discovery. Leave with flexible ideas and strategies that bridge creative and critical inquiry.
Hand Sculpture Slices: Anatomy and This presentation features a simple modeling-clay hand sculpture project where participants can review basic anatomy while learning fundamental sculpting techniques with modeling clay. The project helps develop spatial reasoning, observation, problem-solving, craftsmanship, creativity, and other essential artistic skills through a straightforward and engaging sculptural process Sculpting Techniques.
PBL - Project Based Learning opportunities are available around every corner. This presentation will give examples of how to identify the opportunities, building a framework for student engagement and the roles of adult stakeholders in guiding student success. Having success over the past few years at establishing and facilitating PBL opportunities both in the classroom and in the community, I will present what works, what works better and some of the pitfalls. No fee
This presentation explores how elementary students connect ancient and contemporary landmarks through creative artmaking. Participants will examine a watercolor lesson on Stonehenge and a mixed-media collage project on Carhenge while discovering ways to incorporate art history, creative inquiry, and process-based learning into the elementary art classroom. No participant materials are required.
We will be exploring and designing Barn Quilts. From selected patterns, images can be altered to suit your motif, mascot or theme using geometric shapes. You will be selecting a color scheme and choice of art medium to complete your Style-ish Barn Quilt. Please bring a ruler, pencil, glue and scissors or small sliding paper cutter.
This presentation empowers educators, families, and school communities to “make a mark” by using simple art-based SEL strategies that help neurodivergent and trauma-impacted learners feel seen, regulated, and connected. Through an interactive art activity and practical classroom and homeschool handouts, participants leave with meaningful tools they can immediately implement to build emotional resilience, communication, and confidence in learners of all ages.
Play in vats of 100% cotton and linen pulp to pull sheets of handmade paper. Pulp painting with multi-colored pulp and pulp printing with ready-made screens are additional stations that offer artistically exploratory ways to make messy marks!
All materials are included - no fee required - all abilities welcome! Pull sheets of cotton rag paper Make a Mark with colorful pulp painting & printing Press & Dry to Go Courage to create, make your mark, and see where the paper takes you!
