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I need a three day art lesson that can be taught to K-5 students. This will be an introduction to visual art. In the three days I want the students to learn the basics of creating art but also some techniques.

“Mission to Mars: Designing a Sustainable Space Habitat” NGSS Connection: 5-PS2-1 (Forces and motion) 5-ESS1-2 (Earth’s place in the universe—stars and distance) 5-ESS3-1 (Human impacts and sustainability) Driving Question: How can humans survive and thrive on another planet? Student Experience (Workshop Format): Students research conditions on Mars and challenges for human survival (air, water, temperature, food). Teams design a model habitat that includes systems for energy, food production, and protection. They incorporate forces (launch/landing considerations) and environmental constraints into their designs. Graduate Profile Alignment: Innovative Problem Solver: Designing sustainable habitats Self-Directed Navigator: Researching and planning solutions Productive Collaborator: Working in design teams Effective Communicator: Presenting mission plans Authentic Outcome: Students pitch their Mars habitat designs to a panel (“Space Agency Review Board”).

“Designing Safer Structures: Earthquake-Resistant Buildings” NGSS Connection: 4-ESS3-2 (Design solutions to reduce impacts of natural hazards) Driving Question: How can we design buildings that stay safe during natural disasters? Student Experience (Workshop Format): Students learn about natural hazards (earthquakes, storms) and how they impact structures. Using materials like cardboard, straws, or craft sticks, teams design and build model structures. They test them using simulated shaking (shake table) or wind force and improve designs based on results. Graduate Profile Alignment: Innovative Problem Solver: Engineering stronger structures Productive Collaborator: Team design and testing Mastery Learner: Iterating based on test results Effective Communicator: Sharing design reasoning and improvements Authentic Outcome: Students showcase their designs in a “Safety Engineering Showcase” and explain how their structure protects people.

Animal Farm, by George Orwell

Students will research wilderness survival stories and produce a survival guide, invent and refine survival tools, and write a fictional short story or short screen play.

Poetry project that incorporates aspects of socio emotional learning, performance art, writing, and physical expression (dance). The community partners will be poets, dance instructor.

Fabric Design. Fabrics tells stories and impact culture in various ways. How can we design fabric? What can we do with fabric?