Integrating
Historical and Cultural Contexts Within Instruction Involving Performance
and Production, as Reflected at the Pennsylvania Governor's School
for the Arts
Goal: This Community
of Learners will visit the PA Governor's School for the Arts at
nearby Mercyhurst College. There they will shoot digital video and
take digital photos of the instruction being conducted for the Governor's
School students, as the instruction reflects connection to the standards
statements under proposed PA Arts Standards Category 9.2, Historical
and Cultural Contexts. Each Community participant will reflect on
the historical and cultural context of the curriculum, assessment
and instruction observed at the Governor's School.
Products: Community
Web Page that presents the reflection journals for each Community
participant, to include clips from the video tape shot and photographs
taken at the Governors' School. Reflections will include recommendations
as to how instructional plans concentrating on production, performance
and exhibition of the arts can simultaneously include student work
toward achieving the standards statements under proposed PA Arts
Standards Category 9.2, Historical and Cultural Contexts. Individual
instructional plans will provide examples of this integration.
Resources and a Process
for Teaching About Historical and Cultural Contexts in the Arts
Goal: This Community
of Learners will develop an idea bank by art form of various processes
and instructional strategies that can be used by teachers to assist
students in reaching the standards statements under proposed PA
Arts Standards Category 9.2, Historical and Cultural Contexts. The
participants will visit the PA Technology Resources and Standards
for Arts Educators publication, developed in 1999 by the Pennsylvania
Department of Education, to seek resources. Community members will
locate and explore other primary and secondary sources in various
formats (e.g. -- print documents, software applications, web-based
resources, videoconferencing sites) that can be used by middle and
high school students and teachers in comparing and contrasting the
dance, music, theater, and visual arts experienced by Pennsylvanians
in 1800-1850 with those experienced in 1950-2000.
Products: Community
Web Page of strategies, resources located, processes for using the
resources, and an outine of and reflections on how to involve students
in the uses of these resources to demonstrate achievement of the
standards statements under proposed PA Arts Standards Category 9.2,
Historical and Cultural Contexts. Individual instructional plans
will provide specific examples of the process and utilize some of
the resources located.
Then (1800 -1850) and
Now (1950-2000): Artists, Mediums, Methods and Modes
Goal: This Community
of Learners will take an in-depth look at notable Pennsylvania artists
from 1800-1850 and 1950-2000 (dancers, musicians, composers, visual
artists, playwrights and actors) and at their ÒinstrumentsÓ and
methodology in creating, performing and practicing their art. Resources
for doing this type of research will be introduced and used by community
members in designing their own instruction that will assist students
in reaching the standards statements under proposed PA Arts Standards
Category 9.2, Historical and Cultural Contexts.
Products: Community
Web Page identifying and linking to primary and secondary resources
on Pennsylvania artists from 1800-1850 and 1950-2000 and containing
the membersÕ instructional plans. Individual instructional plans
will compare methodology and modes from these two eras in Pennsylvania
history. The plans will be reflective of the memberÕs own arts area
or will be an arts integrated lesson. Each plan will be applicable
to the teacherÕs own curricular needs. The plans will demonstrate
specific examples of how this information can be used in their classroom
in implementing proposed PA Arts Standards Category 9.2, Historical
and Cultural Contexts, specifically in regards to comparison and
contrast of 1800-1850 and 1950-2000.
Teaching the Whole Child;
Using Frameworks and Integrated Planned Instruction to Teach Historical
and Cultural Contexts in the Arts
Goal: This Community
of Learners will examine the standards statements under proposed
PA Arts Standards Category 9.2, Historical and Cultural Contexts,
and compare these standards with current history and literature
standards to identify connections. Working with these connections,
the group will describe a progression of arts, literature and history
content and skills to be accomplished by students in grade 3, 5,
8, and 12. (What does proficient look like at grade 12? What does
it take to get there?) The members of the group will then research
and identify arts resources to compare and contrast dance, music,
theatre or visual arts in Pennsylvania from 1800-1850 with 1950-2000.
Finally they will create planned instruction in their discipline
which compares and contrasts these two time periods, including recommendations
for connections to the literature and social studies curriculum.
(What will I teach in my classroom? What materials and resources
will I need? How does this fit in my school's curriculum? What connections
can I make with history or literature? Who can help me? In my building?
In my school district? In my community?)
Products: Community
Curriculum Framework Web Page which maps curriculum by describing
a progression of content and skills (grades 3, 5, 8 and 12) to be
achieved under selected standards statements of the proposed PA
Arts Standards Category 9.2, Historical and Cultural Contexts, and
proposed PA history and official PA literature standards. Individual
instructional plans will compare dance, music, theatre or visual
arts in Pennsylvania from 1800-1850 with 1950-2000 and identify
connections to the literature and social studies curriculum - some
of which will be featured on the Framework Web Page.
Goal: This Community
of Learners will focus on instruction toward achievement of proposed
PA Academic Standard Statements 9.2.E., 9.2.H., 9.2.I. and 9.2.K.
The members will learn together about the identification, explanation,
and analysis of the work of diverse traditional artists in contemporary
Pennsylvania (1950-2000) and will study how historical events, culture,
and philosophical beliefs impact the form, technique and purpose
of artistsÕ work. The community members will discuss various conceptual
frameworks for the study of traditional performing arts and crafts
in community life and will develop instructional activities and
assessment strategies for their utilization in the classroom. Members
of this community will be given a sampling of bibliographic, media,
and Internet resources from which to choose in preparing their own
planned instruction and will expand these resources as appropriate
to the content of their instructional plan.
Products: Community
Web Page defining, identifying and linking to resources for students
and teachers using the study of traditional artists in contemporary
Pennsylvania to reach proposed PA Arts Standards Category 9.2, Historical
and Cultural Contexts. Individual instructional plans will use the
resources provided and others identified and will focus on PennsylvaniaÕs
diverse cultural heritage as reflected in the arts of 1950-2000.
Assessing Student Achievement
of Historical and Cultural Context in the Arts
Goal: This Community
of Learners will create a conceptual exemplar rubric that will serve
to guide others in approaching teaching toward, and the assessment
of, the proposed PA Arts Standards Category 9.2, Historical and
Cultural Contexts. Each member of the group will develop a plan
for making a presentation about our work that can then be used to
explain the concepts to colleagues, administrators, students and
their families.
Products: Community
Web Page that presents and explains the rubric the community has
developed. Individual instructional plans will utilize the rubric
in assessing instruction toward proposed Standards Category 9.2,
Historical and Cultural Contexts.
Assisting All Students
in Achieving Standards in the Arts
Goal: This Community
of Learners will study when and how to develop adaptations, modifications,
correctives, and extensions to assist students in achieving the
standards statements under proposed PA Arts Standards Category 9.2,
Historical and Cultural Contexts.
Products: Community
Web Page with definition of terms; user friendly instruction and
assessment method examples for dance, music, theater and visual
arts educators at various grade levels, addressing the standards
statements under proposed PA Arts Standards Category 9.2, Historical
and Cultural Contexts, and with content addressing the 1800-1850
and 1950-2000 eras in Pennsylvania. Individual instructional plans
will include specific examples of adaptations, modifications, correctives
and extensions.
Goal: This Community
of Learners will compare and contrast performance, production and
exhibition spaces of the 1800-1850 era to those of 1950-2000 as
a vehicle for exploring the changing meaning of the arts through
the past 200 years. Members will discuss the creative process (then
and now), artistic intent and the significance of the arts in society.
They will also examine such questions as ÒHow does the space in
which a work is displayed or performed influence its aesthetic and
artistic statement?Ó These issues will be discussed in relation
to the performance, production and exhibition spaces of the two
eras. The group will design and then participate in a videoconference
with educational specialists at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh.
Products: Community
Web Page will address the significance of the arts over the past
200 years by comparing and contrasting the performance, production
and exhibition spaces of 1800-1850 to those of 1950-2000. Included
will be links to individual and group resources. Individual instructional
plans will based around a performance, production or exhibition
space of one of the researched eras. The plans will explore the
meaning and significance of the arts by using the space selected
as a topic for research and discussion.