Today we visited the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) in Raleigh. It was amazing. I absolutely love visiting art museums. I find that there is something about art that resonates with the the core of my being. There are so many things to think about when looking at different art: how did the artist make that, what was the artist thinking at the time, what message(s) do I see, and how does this fit into the culture and time period?
During this visit my eyes were opened to a new perspective, using art to teach other subject areas - math, science, language arts, and social studies. How wonderful to be able to integrate this into the lessons I will be teaching. It is so important that young people are afforded the opportunity to connect with art in ways that are not traditional. It is sad that the arts are being sacrificed due to budget restraints; I feel as if it is my responsibility to find a way to bring them into the classroom despite cuts in funding.
The NCMA is a wonderful resource for teachers in the area (and state). One item I hope to use in my classroom is the Art Detective Discovery Kit. It is a wonderful way to bridge artwork and language arts. Students learn how to interact with the text (the paintings), and are able to develop their writing and critical thinking skills. I envision using this prior to a visit to the museum, where the students will be able to see amazing works of art in person - so powerful.
I encourage you to visit the museum, even if you have been before; I assure you that you will see something different each time that you are there. Also, consider becoming a member of the museum and support such a wonderful resource for the state.
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