Suggested Activities

Below, please find suggested activities that you can incorporate into your Arts Learning in Action elected official visit. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but a sampling of ideas that you can use and adapt.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Activities should demonstrate the process of arts learning. Artwork exhibitions and performances are worthy public events and demonstrate the “product” of the learning. Actual classroom demonstrations will demonstrate the "process" of learning, and be equally as compelling - or more so! - to your visitors. Observers will gain an authentic understanding of arts education as a rigorous, content-rich field of study accessible to all students, not limited only to the "talented or gifted" students who might be showcased in a public event. Whenever possible, include classroom observations as part of your legislator visit.

KEEP IT SIMPLE: While each of the following suggestions is a worthwhile endeavor, please keep in mind it is not necessary to create a new public event to ensure success. Some tips:

• Showcase EXISTING events and ongoing classroom activities
• Focus on the students and their learning

Classroom visits—easy and effective

• Organize a tour of several classrooms when arts lessons are planned. Include several grade levels. Make sure that the teachers are aware of the tour and are prepared to explain the lesson and what the learning objectives of the lesson are. Students should also practice talking about their work and what they are learning before the elected official visit. (See Curriculum and Presentation Planning Tools)

• If your class has been working on a specific assignment, curate an exhibition of student work. Have students create artist statements about their work and what they learned. Post a statement describing the lesson and objectives of the lesson and make sure that students are prepared to talk to the elected officials about their work. (See Curriculum and Presentation Planning Tools)
  
• Have an Arts Education Month poster contest with several categories for different ages. Hold an exhibition of student poster designs and an awards ceremony. Invite your elected officials to celebrate and present awards.
  
• The National PTA Reflections program is an arts recognition and achievement program for students. Invite your elected officials to an exhibition of student submissions and ask your officials to present awards. To organize a Reflections program at your school, contact your local PTA. For detailed information about the program, visit the CA State PTA web site .

Theatre, dance or music performance

• Find out what performances are already planned in March and build your legislator visit around an existing event.

Create a mural

• Use your community resources to plan a student mural project or to highlight an existing mural. Invite your elected officials and your community to a dedication (or re-dedication) ceremony. Arrange for the teacher and students to discuss the objective of the project and what they learned.

Hold an awards event

• Hold an awards ceremony to honor students, arts educators, civic leaders, administrators and/or elected officials who have been supportive of arts education. Invite an elected official to make a presentation and present awards to honorees.

Involve Your School Paper

• Invite your school paper to assign a student journalist and photographer to cover your event and write an article about the event and the importance of the arts from a student’s perspective.

Incorporate a Statement of Belief

• If you are inviting parents and community members to your event, have every visitor sign a Statement of Belief related to the importance of the arts in your school. A sample statement might include: " Our school community at [insert name of school/district] believe that every student in California should have an education in the arts - dance, music, theatre and the visual arts." Take a long piece of butcher paper, write your belief statement at the top and encourage visitors to sign. Send the scroll to your elected official along with a thank you letter after the event.

Curriculum and Presentation Planning Tools
For excellent curriculum and presentation tools that will help you easily demonstrate the “arts learning process” in your event, visit the Alameda County’s Arts is Education web site.