The Project

Project ART SCOPE is an interdisciplinary collaboration between Kuumba Academy Charter School and the Delaware Art Museum that fosters creative and critical thinking. Each grade level (K-5) focuses on a particular theme, and as students progress to a new grade level they participate in new themes that build on prior learning experiences. During museum visits, students tour galleries, create an assortment of art, explore various art processes, and participate in group discussions that emphasize the importance of multiple perspectives. Students also improve their descriptive writing skills through gallery writing exercises and reflective journal writing back at school. A comparison of pre- and post-visit writing assignments indicated a marked improvement in students’ descriptive writing after visiting the museum. The works represented here are from third-grade students who practiced close-looking by creating still-life paintings, landscapes, and self-portrait collages and used their observations to write more descriptively.

To hear Rebecca Howell, museum educator, discuss this program, access the free Guide by Cell audio tour: call 202-595-1193 and dial #6.