As fifth grader William Dalton, Jr. said on one of his final projects, we have been “leaf scientists. This year, we explored a lot of new vocabulary, both artistic and botanical, and developed an eye for important details. In particular, we investigated the many qualities of leaves and learned about the process of photosynthesis. We also learned how to read the history of a woody plant in branches and what plants do to reproduce.

 

All the classes stressed process over product. The goal was for students to see drawing as a way to learn about the world rather than as something requiring perfection or special talent. We practiced skills of observation, questioning, creative thinking, and visual and verbal communication. Finally, students improved their muscle memory for using the tools of art, learning the artist’s workflow and techniques for self-focusing.