Download our Workshops & Performances Catalog

Download our Arts for Learning Services Catalog

Unit Detail

A set of five instructional units adaptable for grades K-8 that utilize arts-integration techniques and the latest research on how children learn to dramatically improve reading motivation, literacy skills, learning skills and knowledge.,/p>

Upside Down Fairytales

This unit introduces the theatre technique of tableau (or living statues) to educators as a way to teach the literacy concepts of point of view and story elements to students. Teachers learn how to use tableau and a simple rubric for success (levels, focus, and expression) to involve even reluctant readers in exploring texts such as “The Three Little Pigs,” (traditional), “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs,” by Jon Scieszka (New York: Viking Kestral, 1989), and “The Cat and His Master,” (traditional). By exploring how perspective shifts change a story and then actually rewriting and performing a fairy tale from another character’s perspective, students are motivated to become more engaged in the process of reading. Tableau appeals to kinesthetic and social learners.

The ideal companion residency for this unit is "From the Page to the Stage."

Graphic Story Adventures

This unit introduces the visual art form of the graphic novel (or illustrated panels) as a way for students to develop visualization skills and understand story elements and author’s choice. Teachers review and practice lessons designed to help students make choices about illustrating the text "My Father's Dragon," by Ruth Stiles Gannett (New York: Random House, 1948).

Students first make choices about illustrating the original text and then develop illustrations for their own sequels. In order to create accurate illustrations, students learn to read for detail and justify artistic choices with evidence or inference from the text. Comic books and illustrated novels appeal to visual learners who learn by mapping and have been embraced by literacy specialists as a way of engaging even the most reluctant readers. The ideal companion residency for this unit is "Drawing Conclusions."

Everyday Heroes

This unit introduces the visual art form of collage as a way for students to develop the capacity to synthesize, make text-to-text comparisons, and determine importance. Teachers explore a unit and lesson plans built around “Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates,” by Jonah Winter (New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2005). Students begin a collage based on this simple biography. As they progress, additional texts and articles about Roberto Clemente’s life are introduced, giving students a chance to refine and revise their collages based on new information. Collage illustrations from African American artist Romare Bearden are used to inspire students and provide examples. Collage appeals to students with visual and spatial intelligence who learn by constructing. Students are attracted to the story of a sports hero, immigrant, and humanitarian.

The ideal companion residency for this unit is "A Hero's Journey."

Planting a Community

This unit introduces the musical art form of found sound composition to teach students about theme, inference, and text-to-text comparison. Students work from the text “Seedfolks,” by Paul Fleischman (New York: HarperCollins, 1997); a wonderful story set in an inner city apartment complex and told from the multiple perspectives of its diverse immigrant inhabitants. Students use found sound instruments to create musical themes for the characters and points or view in the story. As the unit progresses, students collaborate to create sound compositions based on their interpretation of the mood, tone and perspective of each of the characters. This unit appeals to students with musical or rhythmic intelligence and those who learn best by interacting with others. The unit culminates in a performance of student's found sound compositions.

The ideal companion residency for this unit is "Sound Shapers."

Words in Motion

This unit brings together the art forms of dance and spoken word poetry as a way to teach the literacy skill of prosody, while improving vocabulary, understanding word meaning, and developing a sense of metaphoric language. Even teachers with no dance or movement background will be able to master these simple lessons. Students work from contemporary poems to practice reading with expression. As the unit progresses, students add simple movements to express the meaning of their lines of poetry. The unit culminates with performances of student created dances inspired by poetry. This unit is great for students who already find it difficult to sit still. It appeals to the kinesthetic intelligence of students who learn by moving.

The ideal companion residency for this unit is "What's In The Words?"

Arts for Learning Companion Residencies

Contact us for more information about scheduling an A4L Professional Development Unit.