Teahcers and Students from Meadow Ridge Learn About the Arts in New Ways

Students from Lori Severied’s class participate with Lori and Mr. Dave in a theatre lesson demonstrating how to use facial expressions/gestures to communicate distinct emotional trait.

Teahcers and students from Meadow Ridge Elementary in Kent School District are learning about the arts in new ways, thanks to a local arts education program called Arts Impact. Lori Severeid, 3rd grade teacher says, "It's an excellent program. It’s well put together and well planned. The lesson plans are extensive and the support they offer is great."

Arts Impact is a two-year teacher training program in the arts. Meadow Ridge teachers Julia Garret (4th grade), Tineke Bauck (6th grade), and Lori spent a week in the summer learning about dance, theater, and visual arts. They subsequently chose theater arts as their focus for the first year. (They will choose a different focus for next year.) The teachers are continuing to take classes during the school year. Another important aspect of the program is partnerships between teachers and expert mentors. The Meadow Ridge teachers are working with theater arts expert Dave Quicksall, who is helping them develop and teach lessons.

The Arts Impact curriculum deepens understanding of the arts for all students. It is tied to the Essential Academic Learning Requirements. Classroom activities may include role playing. For example, students may form teams and pretend they are passing each other a heavy rock or use exaggerated voices to portray an emotion. Another activity involved using appropriate voices to read the Dr. Seuss book, Green Eggs and Ham. Students pretended to be characters, used expressive body movements, and practiced projecting their voices without yelling. This activity ties in directly with literacy requirements.

Arts Impact also made it possible for students to attend a performance of the play "The Stinky Cheese Man" at the Pantages Theater in Tacoma and visit the Tacoma Art Museum. Thanks to a grant from the Kent Arts Commission, Meadow Ridge, East Hill, and Soos Creek elementary schools are all able to participate in Arts Impact.

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