CCE MAKES MONUMENTAL IMPRESSION ON BENJAMIN SCHOOL EIGHTH GRADERS
Class takes part in arts-integration programming before heading to DC
(North Palm Beach, FL.) Who or what would you build a monument to if you had the chance? Before eighth-grader students at The Benjamin School took a recent class trip to the city famous for monuments, Washington DC, they worked with the Center for Creative Education to create their own. Benjamin teachers partnered with teaching artists from CCE to help the students define the subject of their monuments, engineer a prototype and build it. The students also had to defend why their subject deserved to have a monument and write a poem or sonnet about it.
Their projects ranged from a tribute to the children who were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary, a seeing-eye dog that saved several people’s lives on 9-11, and one of the most powerful women in the ancient world, Cleopatra. Others might be a little more surprising, a monument to Coco Chanel and one to M&Ms (actually the candy was created during World War II so they wouldn’t melt in a soldier’s knapsack.)
This civics and language arts lesson was the first collaboration between the Center for Creative Education and The Benjamin School and more arts integration projects are to follow with other students in the middle school.
“For some children a paint brush can be more powerful than a pencil, and that’s a lesson the Center for Creative Education has been teaching for 20 years now,” said Jerry Crank, CCE Director of Programming. “Arts integration is a way to even the playing field for disadvantaged children at risk of failure and it allows academically advanced students an opportunity to explore higher order thinking processes. Working with the students and administrators at The Benjamin School was an incredible experience and we look forward to a continued relationship with them.”
Parents, Board members and other students were treated to a walking tour of the “Monument Project.”
“This assignment added another exciting and resourceful component to our curriculum that is aligned with our 21st century philosophy,” said Head of Middle School Charles Hagy. “We look forward to our continued partnership throughout the year with the CCE teaching artists who will bring a similar learning experience into our 6th and 7th grade classes.”
Since its inception 20 years ago, approximately 150,000 children have experienced CCE’s method of merging art with academics to bring learning to life, engaging children in hands-on, project-based education. CCE teaching artists use the arts as a vehicle to help students gain greater understanding of science, math, literacy and other areas of learning.
Traditionally CCE works with disadvantaged students at school sites all over Palm Beach County, providing after-school and in school programming to many students considered “at risk.” In addition, they are hired by private and independent schools to provide arts integrated instruction.
For information on CCE’s in-school and after-school programming, classes in its Northwood Village headquarters, to participate in events or make a donation to benefit at-risk school programs, please visit www.cceflorida.org or call 561-805-9927.