Artistic Journeys: NYC Neighborhoods in Color and Sound

2nd Grade

Project
4 weeks

Artistic Journeys: NYC Neighborhoods in Color and Sound

Jack Spagnola

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to engage 2nd-grade students in a creative exploration of New York City through art, fostering a deep connection to the city's neighborhoods, sounds, and diverse communities. By collaborating with local artists and musicians, students will develop skills in using various materials and techniques to express their understanding of NYC's unique characteristics. This project aims to cultivate an appreciation for the city's vibrant culture while encouraging students to express their perspectives through collaborative and individual art pieces.

Learning goals

Students will explore the geography and history of New York City neighborhoods, gaining an understanding of their unique characteristics and cultural diversity. They will experiment with various art materials and techniques to create visual representations of NYC's skyline and sounds, developing their artistic skills and creative expression. Through collaboration and community engagement, students will enhance their teamwork and communication abilities, culminating in the creation of a mural and other art pieces that reflect the essence of NYC neighborhoods.

Standards

Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.1: Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 2 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.7: Participate in shared research and writing projects.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.VA:Cr2.1.2: Experiment with various materials and tools to explore personal interests in a work of art or design.

Products

Students will collaboratively create a mural that captures the essence of New York City's neighborhoods, using mixed media to highlight unique characteristics. They will also design skyline-inspired sculptures with various art materials, showcasing their interpretation of NYC's iconic skyline. Additionally, students will contribute to a 'Community Canvas' event, where their mural is unveiled, and they engage attendees in adding to a communal art piece, reflecting the neighborhood's stories and connections.

Launch

Kick off the project with a 'Neighborhood Exploration Day' where students embark on a guided tour of a nearby New York City neighborhood. During the visit, students will sketch notable landmarks and collect small, safe materials like leaves or paper scraps to incorporate into their art projects. This immersive experience will ignite curiosity and provide firsthand inspiration for their creative journey.

Exhibition

Host a vibrant 'City Sounds and Visuals' showcase where students present their art inspired by the sounds of New York City, accompanied by a live performance from a local musician to create an immersive experience. Organize a 'Skyline Creations' gallery walk, inviting local artists to provide feedback on students' skyline-inspired sculptures. Facilitate a 'Community Canvas' event to unveil the collaborative mural, encouraging attendees to contribute to a communal art piece, fostering community engagement and celebration.

Week 1	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Activity 1: Introduce the project by discussing New York City's neighborhoods and the essential question: 'How can we use art to tell the story of New York City's neighborhoods?' Use an interactive map to explore different neighborhoods, highlighting unique features and cultural diversity.	Activity 2: Facilitate a 'Neighborhood Exploration Day' where students visit a nearby NYC neighborhood. Encourage them to sketch landmarks, take notes, and collect small, safe materials such as leaves or paper scraps to use in art projects.	Activity 3: Conduct a 'Materials Exploration' workshop where students experiment with different art materials such as paint, clay, and recycled objects, discussing how various textures and colors can represent NYC's skyline and neighborhoods.	Activity 4: Collaborate with a local NYC artist specializing in mixed media. The artist will guide students in brainstorming ideas for a mural that represents an NYC neighborhood, focusing on incorporating various materials.	Activity 5: Organize a reflection circle where students share their experiences from the neighborhood exploration and materials workshop. Discuss the challenges faced and the creative ideas inspired by their observations.
Deliverables	1. Deliverable 1: Students will create a sketchbook page with drawings, notes, and collected materials from the neighborhood exploration, demonstrating their initial ideas and inspirations for their art project.
Preparation	1. Prep Task 1: Coordinate with a local artist to schedule the collaboration session, ensuring alignment with the project's goals. 2. Prep Task 2: Arrange for necessary permissions and transportation for the Neighborhood Exploration Day. 3. Prep Task 3: Gather and organize art materials, ensuring a variety of options for the materials exploration workshop. 4. Prep Task 4: Prepare an interactive map of NYC neighborhoods for the introductory discussion. 5. Prep Task 5: Set up a space for the reflection circle, ensuring a welcoming and supportive environment for sharing.

Week 2	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Activity 1: Begin with a sound exploration session where students listen to recordings of various sounds from New York City. Facilitate a discussion on how these sounds make them feel and how they might translate these auditory experiences into visual art.	Activity 2: Guide students in a hands-on art session where they create visual representations of the sounds they explored. Encourage them to use different mediums and textures to express the rhythms and noises of NYC.	Activity 3: Collaborate with a local musician or music teacher who can perform live or share more NYC sounds, providing students with a richer auditory palette for their visual art projects.	Activity 4: Organize a 'Critique Corner' where students present their sound-inspired art pieces. Encourage them to provide and receive feedback, fostering a supportive and constructive critique environment.	Activity 5: Facilitate a reflection circle where students discuss how they transformed sounds into visual art and the challenges they encountered. Encourage them to document their reflections in their journals.
Deliverables	1. Deliverable 1: Students will complete a visual art piece inspired by the sounds of New York City, demonstrating their creative process and interpretation of auditory experiences.
Preparation	1. Prep Task 1: Gather sound recordings of New York City, ensuring a diverse selection that includes different neighborhoods, times of day, and iconic city sounds. 2. Prep Task 2: Coordinate with a local musician or music teacher to schedule a session, aligning it with the sound exploration theme. 3. Prep Task 3: Organize art materials such as paints, pastels, collage papers, and textured items for the sound-to-visual art activity. 4. Prep Task 4: Set up a designated space for the 'Critique Corner' where students can display their work and engage in peer reviews. 5. Prep Task 5: Prepare reflection journals for each student to document their artistic journey and personal reflections.

Week 3	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Activity 1: Conduct a 'Recycled Materials Collection Day' where students bring in safe, clean, and approved recycled materials from home. Introduce the concept of using these materials to create art pieces that reflect the diversity of New York City's communities.	Activity 2: Facilitate a hands-on art session where students begin designing and constructing art pieces using the collected recycled materials. Encourage creativity and collaboration, allowing students to share materials and ideas.	Activity 3: Organize a visit from a local NYC artist who specializes in using recycled materials in art. The artist will demonstrate techniques and provide guidance as students continue working on their projects.	Activity 4: Set up a 'Reflection and Revision' session where students review their recycled material art projects with peers. They will receive feedback, discuss how their work represents NYC's diversity, and make any necessary adjustments.	Activity 5: Host a 'Reflection Circle' where students share their experiences of using recycled materials. Encourage them to discuss challenges faced, solutions found, and what they learned about NYC's communities through this process.
Deliverables	1. Deliverable 1: Students will complete an art piece made from recycled materials that represents the diversity of New York City's communities.
Preparation	1. Prep Task 1: Share guidelines with students and parents on the types of recycled materials to collect, ensuring safety and appropriateness for classroom use. 2. Prep Task 2: Organize and label collection bins for students to deposit their recycled materials at the beginning of the week. 3. Prep Task 3: Coordinate with a local artist who specializes in recycled materials to schedule a demonstration and guidance session. 4. Prep Task 4: Prepare a space for the art session with necessary tools and supplies (e.g., glue, scissors, tape) for assembling recycled materials. 5. Prep Task 5: Set up a comfortable area for the 'Reflection Circle,' ensuring it is conducive to open and supportive discussions.

Week 4	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Activity 1: Begin the week with a group discussion to review the progress of the collaborative mural. Discuss final details and elements that need to be added or refined, ensuring that each student's contribution reflects the neighborhood's unique characteristics.	Activity 2: Facilitate a final mural creation session where students complete their collaborative mural. Encourage them to incorporate different textures and colors using mixed media to highlight the unique aspects of New York City's neighborhoods.	Activity 3: Organize a 'Skyline Creations' workshop where students put the finishing touches on their skyline-inspired sculptures. Ensure students use various materials to represent the iconic features of NYC's skyline.	Activity 4: Host a 'City Sounds and Visuals' showcase rehearsal. Students practice presenting their sound-inspired visual art pieces and explaining the process of translating auditory experiences into visual form.	Activity 5: Conduct a 'Community Canvas' event where students unveil their collaborative mural and skyline sculptures. Invite local artists and community members to attend, allowing students to present their work and engage attendees in contributing to a communal art piece.
Deliverables	1. Deliverable 1: Completion and presentation of the collaborative mural representing New York City's neighborhoods. 2. Deliverable 2: Finalized skyline-inspired sculptures displayed during the 'Skyline Creations' gallery walk. 3. Deliverable 3: Presentation of sound-inspired visual art pieces during the 'City Sounds and Visuals' showcase.
Preparation	1. Prep Task 1: Ensure all materials and tools for the final mural creation session are available, including paints, brushes, and mixed media supplies. 2. Prep Task 2: Arrange the setup for the 'Skyline Creations' workshop, with necessary materials for sculpture completion. 3. Prep Task 3: Coordinate rehearsal space for the 'City Sounds and Visuals' showcase, ensuring students can comfortably present their work. 4. Prep Task 4: Plan logistics and invitations for the 'Community Canvas' event, coordinating with local artists and community partners. 5. Prep Task 5: Prepare feedback forms and reflection prompts for students to complete after the exhibition to document their learning journey and experiences.