May 29, 2020

Africa Project – Part 1

as told by our favorite Art Coach, Bruce Hucko Africa, The Book is a celebration of an artistic collaboration that took place at Helen M. Knight Elementary School in Moab, Utah during the 2019-2020 School Year. It centers on the creative energy of Mrs. Charlotte Quigley’s 3rd Grade class. It involves the school’s inspired music teacher Sheila Strahan and BTSALP-Visual Art Specialist Art Coach Bruce Hucko. The Adventure began when – Mrs. Quigley’s 3rd Grade class was reading folk tales as part of their social studies curriculum. Good teacher that she is, Mrs. Quigley saw the opportunity for creativity and […]
May 11, 2020

The Day the Crayons Quit

Debbie Beninati, BTSALP Music specialist at Sandy Elementary School in Canyons School district wrote two original songs and one original rap for a production of The Day the Crayons Quit. Students in the after school program did the rest: staging, casting, orchestrating on Orff instruments, painting protest signs for the crayons to carry, and creating art work that accompanied the story. Their only “script” was the text of the story, The Day the Crayons Quit , by Drew Daywalt.  Safe to say it was a SMASH HIT!
March 25, 2020

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

Schools all over Utah celebrated the birthday of the colorful and quirky Dr. Seuss. See how some of our BTSALP schools celebrated! Carl Sandburg Elementary School in Granite School District threw quite the party for Dr. Seuss’s birthday! decorations, books, cake and . . . . costumes! Let’s get this party started!!!! Kirsten Schiel, BTSALP Visual Art specialist at Taylorsville Elementary School, Granite School District went “all in” and had each grade level do an integrated art lesson around – what else? – a Dr. Seuss book. Kindergarten: The Foot Book with ceramic feet. First Grade: My Many Colored Days […]
January 17, 2020

Book Reviews

Malala’s Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai Nobel Peace Prize winner and New York Times bestselling author Malala Yousafzai’s first picture book, inspired by her own childhood. The New Neighbors by Sarah McIntyre New neighbors have moved into the ground floor of a bustling apartment building. The bunnies upstairs are excited, but what will the other residents think? Sarah McIntyre’s funny, light-hearted tale reveals there’s no room for prejudice. We’re All Wonders by R. J. Palacio The unforgettable bestseller Wonder, now a major motion picture, has inspired a nationwide movement to Choose Kind. Now parents and educators can introduce the importance […]
January 1, 2019

Mind Mapping Lesson Plan

Mind Mapping is a visual form of note taking that offers an overview of a topic and its complex information, allowing students to comprehend, create new ideas and build connections. Through the use of drawings, color, images and words, Mind Mapping encourages students to begin with a central idea and expand outward.
November 5, 2018

For The Love of Reading

Jen Terry is a BTSALP Professional Development Partner and elementary art integration coach at Alpine School District. She believes that art integration transforms learning into purposeful experiences that are worthwhile for the teacher and student. Jen holds a B.S. from Utah State University in Early Childhood Education with a Visual Art emphasis and a M.Ed. in Integrated Curriculum from American College of Education.  As a practicing artist, she is passionate about the arts and children’s literature. She is a curator of children’s picture books who works to bridge stories and inspire ideas in the hearts of children and educators.   Jen […]