“An elementary school that treats the arts as the province of a few gifted children, or views them only as recreation and entertainment, is a school that needs an infusion of soul. That arts are an essential element of education, just like reading, writing, and arithmetic.” –William Bennett, Former US Secretary of Education
Years of research show that Art Education is tied to nearly everything we say we want for our kids and from our schools. When children are given ample opportunity to engage with the Arts there are measurable gains in academic achievement, civic engagement and social and emotional development. Involvement in the arts is also linked to gains in reading, math, critical thinking, cognitive ability and verbal skill while improving concentration, teamwork, confidence and motivation!
While schools across the nation are slowly edging the Arts out of curriculum, the students at Camas Ridge are given ample opportunity to explore education through the Arts. Parents are encouraged to come see the culmination of student art projects at the Camas Ridge Art Walks that are held twice a year and to get behind the scene and witness what happens during Camas Ridge’s famous Art Blocks first handed.
Art Project Work
Below are some example of recent Art Projects offered to students:
Paint It Big!
Have you ever dreamed of painting a really, really, really, really big painting???? In this art block you will learn how to take any normal drawing and enlarge it! You choose… dragons, nature, animals, space ships, and school mascots, anything else you can dream up… and when you have your subject you will explore gridding to create a large painting of your subject! You can work alone or with friends to create your masterpiece. Let’s paint it BIG!
Reader’s Theater
Do you like to be on stage? Do you want to be an actor, director or writer? Then, this project is for you. In this dramatic project, act out a skit, make a prop, and put on a show. Maybe you will even write your own play. No broken legs please!
All About Perspective
Do you ever wonder how an artist is able to create a 3 dimensional world? In this project you will experiment with the art elements of space, form, and value, learn about design, and create an illusion of space and depth. So come on, join us to make flat images come to life!