June 5, 2020
as told by our favorite Art Coach, Bruce Hucko The Performance This really needs to be experienced in person. We have a video and it’s wonderful, but it’s just not the same as having been there in Ms. Sheila’s music room, which had been converted, quite simply, easily and indeed, magically, into a hybrid theatrical performance space and African ceremonial plaza laying deep in the jungle. The background was hung. Stage sides were set. Drums, Xylophones and other instruments were placed. Characters held their dance masks. Introductions were made. Everyone took their place. Actors, parents, and audience held their breath. […]
May 29, 2020
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 21, 2020
Brooke Smart is a visual artist collaborating with Better Days, the organization celebrating both Utah and national suffrage by honoring women throughout history. Brooke was brought to Logan as a resident artist with both Cache Valley and Logan City School Districts. During her week stay, Brooke worked with BTSALP visual art educator, Sheree Given and her 4th grade students at Wilson Elementary. She also spent the week with visual art instructor Katie Shupe’s Art 1 and AP Art classes at Mountain Crest High School. The students learned about Brooke’s artwork and her traveling art exhibit, “Utah Women Making History,” which includes illustrations of Utah […]
May 1, 2020
Visitors to Utah State University’s Sorenson Center for Clinical Excellence were greeted with music and the buzz of children’s voices as the Lyndsley Wilkerson Gallery celebrated the opening of its newest exhibit, “Creativity Unbound.” The gallery featured student artwork from K-8 schools in the Logan, Cache County and Box Elder School Districts in a celebration of the importance of the arts to both learning and self-expression. Those in attendance at the grand opening enjoyed a performance by the North Park Elementary Honor Choir, and students were thrilled to see their masterpieces displayed. Read more about it….
April 20, 2020
Nathan Smith, BTSALP Visual Art Specialist at Truman Elementary School in Granite School District, makes sure to not only display the work of his students but to explain to parents and art show visitors the content integration that informs the art projects. First grade students examined their roles and the important roles of other people and places in their communities. They referenced the artwork The Block by Romare Bearden, an amazing contemporary African American collage artist. Then students used organic and geometric shapes to create their own collage of their favorite places in their community. Second grade students created Color […]
April 7, 2020
Zoe Bennion (10 years old,) a fifth grader at Rosemond Elementary School in Jordan School District and her sister Mia (5 years old,) a Kindergartner at Foothills Elementary also in Jordan School District made a slide show to make all the teachers in Utah happy! Trust me, it does just that! BTSALP’s website designer, Anneliese Bennion took the LOVE up a notch by creating the . . . Awesome project for teachers, parents and creative spirits of all ages!! Check it out below.
April 3, 2020
Enoch Arts Night (Title 1 Family Engagement Night) for Enoch Elementary in the Iron County School District under the direction of BTSALP Visual Arts Specialist, Kirsten Anderson, Principal, Daniel Ekker, and Reading Specialist, Marcy Christensen was held on Monday, February 10th. It was a wonderful night FULL of creativity and fun! The event featured a large student art show full of the arts integrated projects the students had been working on since the beginning of the year. There were trainings for parents on how to best support their students academically and emotionally. The SUU Play Team was in attendance to […]
March 31, 2020
Kristen Hemmis, former BTSALP Visual Art specialist now living and teaching art in Boston, Massachusetts shared this wonderful lesson plan. As the weather warms up it’s the perfect way to soak up some sunshine and add in a little arts integration on the side. Thank you Kristen. We miss you here in Utah! Click here to download the lesson plan.
March 25, 2020
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 […]
March 16, 2020
Education is much more than just academic achievement. The classroom needs to be a place where students can learn about themselves as well as the world around them. Integrating the arts into the core curriculum is a proven strategy for helping to address all the needs of students. In elementary schools, arts-integrated learning has been shown to improve students’ social, emotional, core academic, and arts learning. Art Works for Kids is happy to announce the new and improved Lesson Plan Tool is up and running! Lesson plans for all grade levels, art forms and subject matter are available for your […]
March 1, 2020
Sunshine 2.0 is a professional traveling theater troupe based at Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) in Rochester, New York. The troupe provides performances and activities for deaf and hard-of-hearing children and adults that highlight the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEaM), as well as educational topics pertaining to the Deaf experience. The theater troupe travels to schools, and programs serving deaf and hard-of-hearing students, colleges, museums, conferences, civic groups, festivals and other venues. Performances are presented in voice and in American Sign Language, are accessible to all audience members and cover […]
February 13, 2020
An Appreciation Luncheon for Utah State Legislators was held at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building on Friday, January 31, 2020. It was a fabulous affair filled with Art, Dance and support for the BTSALP program. Art for Centerpieces and Program – Liberty Hills Elementary, Alpine District, Jen Terry “We Will Rock You!” presented by Herriman Elementary School, Jordan School District 4th Grade (Ms. Mumford,) Jana Shumway BTSALP Dance Specialist Gumball Machines: Study of Color Mixing – James Moss Elementary, Granite School District, Kirsten Schiel Sandhill Cranes in Utah Wetlands: Environmental Studies – Riley Elementary, Salt Lake City School District, Regina […]
February 5, 2020
One hundred and fifty years ago, on February 12, 1870, the Utah Territorial Legislature passed a women’s suffrage bill that allowed female citizens to vote under the same laws as the men. Join Better Days 2020, Utah Department of Heritage and Arts, and Utah Cultural Alliance at the Utah State Capitol to commemorate and celebrate this important anniversary and our Utah HERitage of women who continued to fight for representation and improve their communities. Social and political change is often long and difficult and involves many different women and men working together – and sometimes against each other. The year […]
January 27, 2020
BTSALP Visual Art Specialist, Paul Heath had his Newman Elementary and M Lynn Bennion (SLCSD) students create color pencil drawings on toned paper. Each grade level at both schools worked with a different media. 4th Grade did foam block prints over an abstract watercolor base. 5th Grade did watercolor paintings while 6th Grade made color pencil drawings. They discussed the history of neon signs, and specifically, the history of the Young Electric Sign Company who are celebrating their 100th Anniversary this year. Students had black and white photo print outs from YESCO’s archives to choose as subject matter, or they […]
January 12, 2020
The Granite School District Art Gallery is currently showing art from BTSALP students. The exhibit – Do Art To Be Smart – will be on display until January 31, 2020. Images below are just a “sneak peek” into the creativity of BTSALP students! The following Specialists shared integrated art pieces created by their elementary school students. Sheryl Larsen, Cottonwood & Howard R. Driggs Lucille Stearman, Plymouth & Freemont Cynthia Micken, Copper Hills & Magna Catherine Widner, Pioneer & Jim Bridger James Camargo, Elk Run & Jackling Geometric and Organic Line and Shape, Grades K-6 – BTSALP Specialist, Lucille Stearman Positive […]
December 16, 2019
First graders at Monte Vista Elementary School in Jordan School District, under the direction of BTSALP Music Specialist, Amanda Maloy, presented a musical and visual extravaganza for parents and students!!!! All the students in the five first grade classrooms participated in the performance. Amanda wrote the script and directed the first graders in a rollicking good show! See for yourself!
December 13, 2019
Courtni Giles, BTSALP Dance Specialist extraordinaire in Washington School District serves 8 Special Education classrooms in 8 – you heard that right – in 8 different schools! Courtni exposes the students to dance and movement as well as adaptive Physical Education activities. Courtni wants ALL students up and moving and creates positive, imaginative and magical experiences where ALL students can feel successful! She believes in helping her students create healthy and FUN lifestyles! Courtni starts each class period with a song and a “Sports” activity. She uses props such as frisbees, beach balls, volley balls and giant balloons. Every seven […]
December 9, 2019
Robert Smith, BTSALP Art Coach in Alpine School District, led Ms. Decker’s 5th grade class through an integrated lesson using the book, The Mountain Dance by Thomas Locker. He started by having students close their eyes and listen to a Beethoven selection that complemented the wonderful illustrations in the book. Students listed words that described the music such as happy, intense, adventurous, calming and relaxing. He then read the book to the students, pausing at certain passages for the students to visualize the words being read. The class then discussed the vivid verbs and interesting adverbs they found in the […]
December 2, 2019
Axis Dance Company: Changing the face of dance & disability. We accomplish our mission through three pillars of activity: artistry, engagement, advocacy The heart of AXIS is the commissioning, creation, and performance of contemporary dance that is developed through the collaboration of dancers with and without physical disabilities. Our artistic vision to collaborate with high profile choreographers and cutting edge innovative dance makers of our time was an excellent strategy that has resulted in artistically stunning and significant dance works. More than any other company in the United States, AXIS has been at the forefront of the field, building a […]
November 25, 2019
Leaves From Roots is the brainchild of Britt Black, BTSALP Visual Art specialist at Philo T. Farnsworth Elementary School (Granite School District.) The exhibit celebrates the rich and diverse cultures that make up the community and student body of the school. This project comes with a lot of thought and meaning. Students have been working since the start of the 2019-2020 school year to create a leaf based on an investigation into their own roots. These artists know that there was once a member of their family that brought them and their culture to Utah, whether it was quite recently […]
November 7, 2019
Robert Smith, BTSALP and Alpine School District Coach, is back guiding the 4th grade students in Ms. Mickelsen’s class through a session of scientific sketching and drawing. Topic: Butterflies! Scientific drawing require the artist to look at things through the eyes of a scientist. Charles Darwin was a scientist who was also an artist. He studied plants and animals and drew them in an accurate and detailed way. Boxes of butterflies, beetles and other creatures can be checked out from the Museum of Natural History on the University of Utah campus.
November 1, 2019
Josh Roberts, BTSALP Music Specialist, makes musical magic on a daily basis at Blackridge Elementary School in Jordan School District. The music making starts before school and continues after school with Recorder Club and Ukulele Club. Students eagerly get out their Orff instruments and start the class session practicing rhythm. Rhythm, beat, teamwork, coordination and concentration all come into play with this musical activity. Friends of Job Oh the friends of Job are quickly passing by, They can take, they can leave, They can take, they can go, They go tiga-taga tiga-tag tiga-taga toe, They go tiga-taga tiga-tag tiga-taga toe, […]
October 21, 2019
Spencer and Camilla Duncan are BTSALP Drama specialists and . . . they are also husband and wife! Spencer teaches at Copper Canyon Elementary and Elk Meadows Elementary in the Jordan School District while Camilla is at Edgemont Elementary and Park Lane Elementary in the Canyons School District. Spencer’s sixth grade class Copper Canyon have been studying and acting out the Egyptian myth of Osiris during drama class this month. Below is a short synopsis of the Egyptian myth. The Osiris myth is the most elaborate and influential story in ancient Egyptian mythology. It concerns the murder of the god Osiris, a primeval king of Egypt, […]
October 15, 2019
This Fall, 2019 the Artsbridge Honors course at Weber State University will design and co-create a new faux-stained glass installation called Utah Birds & Ecosystems. This is a course designed for Weber State University students to work closely with professors and BTSALP Visual Arts Specialist, Brent Rhodes, and his 4th graders at James Madison Elementary. Through this collaboration students design and build a hanging installation that depicts the birds and ecosystems found in Utah. This aligns with the 4th grade Utah State Science Standards. All of the Weber State students and 4th Graders will visit the Ogden Nature Center to gather field […]