All children are artists.
The Unquowa curriculum provides students with regular opportunities to express themselves through visual and performing arts from the earliest ages—twice weekly in grades PreK through 5 and three times weekly in the Upper School. We see the arts as essential to a child’s development and character formation. Artistic practice bolsters academic success by increasing critical thinking skills, concentration, self-discipline, self-expression, and self esteem. The arts help children understand their emotions and teach empathy by engaging with the emotions of others. Both visual and performing arts build confidence, increase neural connectivity, and put children more in touch with themselves and the world around them.
Student Artwork to be Displayed at the First State National Historical Park
Posted by Krissy Ponden
Our sixth graders have been busy creating artwork for a student exhibition at the First State National Historical Park in Delaware. This year’s theme, “To Be An American,” invites young artists to reflect on how they see themselves within the American story. Students chose subjects that felt meaningful to them such as landmarks and iconic symbols, family histories, community traditions, and moments that speak to both struggle and hope for the future. Their artwork will be sent to the museum and displayed this spring, and we’re so excited for visitors to experience our students’ thoughtful and heartfelt creations.
Helping Create Memories for Children in Cambodia
Posted by Krissy Ponden
This year, our seventh and eighth grade students have once again participated in The Memory Project, which connects young people around the world by sending heartfelt artwork to children living in challenging circumstances. We were partnered with students in Cambodia, where many children face obstacles in attending school. Our seventh graders created Identity Art pieces featuring each child’s name and descriptive words they chose, while eighth graders created portraits in colored pencil. These artworks will be delivered through The Memory Project’s partner organizations, offering the children meaningful gifts of hope and kindness. It’s a project our students look forward to every year and a wonderful example of service learning at Unquowa.
Kindergarten Explores the Art and History of Stained Glass
Posted by Alice DesGranges
Our Kindergarten artists spent time exploring the beauty and history of stained glass. They learned how stained glass is made, what materials artists use, and how to “read” a window from bottom to top and left to right. Students examined real pieces of stained glass from a restoration project at the Chartres Cathedral in France and were thrilled to touch an authentic fragment dating back to the 15th century. Inspired by what they discovered, the class created their own vibrant stained-glass artworks, which are now proudly displayed in the Lower School art area in preparation for our Winterfest celebration.
Action Art!
Posted by Faith Barbuto
This month the PreK students are learning about Jackson Pollack and we couldn’t sit still for these activities! Jackson created art by splashing paint, splattering paint and even throwing paint. His body was always in motion when he made his action art. First we made Jackson Pollack shirts by squeezing fabric paints onto plain white shirts. We used the playground bridge as elevation to create paint splatter masterpieces. Fittingly our story this month is The Three Billy Goats Gruff which has a bridge as a central feature. We made trees out of brown paper bags and used a splatter technique to add different colored “leaves” to represent the different seasons. In a mindfulness art activity we conveyed the emotions music gave us using just one crayon. Things got even messier when we made our own paint color by filling up squeeze bottles and drizzling them over cardboard. I learned my lesson after bridge painting that paper can’t hold up to this much paint! For our last action art activity we did string paintings. We dipped strings into different colors of paint and then pressed it between two pieces of white paper. These will become colorful feathers for an artist tribute turkey!
2nd Grade – Together, Wherever We Go
Posted by emilyhall
Second grade was fabulous with this performance! I love teaching students about musicals from the past and present and they love it too. This song from Gypsy really connected with our second graders and they did a great job on stage! Here at Unquowa we are Together, Wherever We Go!
Spoon Full of Sugar
Posted by emilyhall
What a fun performance with spoons and high c’s aplenty. Every child is different in their want to be on stage and to sing. This first grade class worked with me to design a performance they all felt good about doing. I am so proud of them. Great job!
