29 Pieces

29 PIECES USES ART TO AWAKEN, UPLIFT AND GIVE VOICE TO THE CREATIVE HUMAN SPIRIT TO MAKE GENUINE, POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE.

2022 REPORT TO THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE 29 PIECES PROVIDES THIS REPORT FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2022. THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED OVER THE PAST YEAR ALIGNS WITH OUR MULTI-YEAR LEGACY PROJECT INITIATIVE, TO SCALE OUR EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM AND CONTENT FOR ACCESS BY TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS ACROSS THE NATION, POSITIONING NORTH TEXAS AS A LEADER IN USING CREATIVITY FOR SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING. SUCCESSES AS PLANNED, 29 PIECES: . PARTNERED WITH A TEAM OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS TO DEVELOP FOUR NEW LESSONS FOR OUR ORIGINAL, HANDS-ON ARTS EDUCATION CURRICULUM, ARTISTS MAKING A KINDER WORLD. . DEEPENED EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH EDUCATORS VIA ONGOING FREE TEACHER TRAININGS IN OUR LESSONS AND ENCOURAGING FACILITATION OF ADDITIONAL 29 PIECES LESSONS. . AND WE CONTINUED BROADENING OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT WITH EDUCATORS NEW TO 29 PIECES. FOUR NEW LESSONS 29 PIECES PARTNERED WITH 12 TEACHERS (6 NATIONAL, 6 FROM TEXAS) REPRESENTING ELEMENTARY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL GRADE LEVELS TO DEVELOP FOUR NEW LESSONS TO ADD TO THE ARTISTS MAKING A KINDER WORLD CURRICULUM, USING ART FOR SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING. . BEGINNING IN EARLY 2022, TEACHERS WORKED WITH KAREN BLESSEN ON IDENTIFYING LESSON OBJECTIVES, DEVELOPING CONTENT, DESIGNING ART PROJECTS, AND MAKING CONNECTIONS WITH OTHER ENRICHMENT RESOURCES FOR LESSONS ACCORDING TO THEIR RESPECTIVE LESSON TEAMS. . TEACHERS PILOTED THE LESSONS THAT THEY DESIGNED IN THEIR CLASSROOMS THROUGHOUT THE 2022 FALL SEMESTER AND OFFERED SUGGESTED REVISIONS. . 29 PIECES INTEGRATED REVISIONS AND FINALIZED CHANGES TO ALL LESSONS. . TEACHERS SUBMITTED PHOTOS OF ALL STUDENT ART FOR USE BY 29 PIECES IN MARKETING AND LESSON EXAMPLES. MOST PARTICIPATING TEACHERS ALSO CURATED SCHOOL EXHIBITIONS SHOWCASING STUDENT WORK. IN TOTAL, 2,033 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN PILOTING THE FOUR NEW LESSONS. THE FOUR NEW LESSONS INCLUDE: SEEDS DEVELOPED BY 29 PIECES, LAUREN BOMBA (WASHINGTON DC), CHERYL GORDON (BIRMINGHAM, AL), AND JANE MAUS (GRAND PRAIRIE, TX) THIS LESSON CENTERS ON THE POSSIBILITIES CONTAINED IN SEEDS. PARTICIPANTS REFLECT ON HOW PLANTING ONE SEED CAN EVENTUATE IN THOUSANDS MORE BEAUTIFUL PLANTS. WHAT THOUGHT SEEDS DO WE WANT TO PLANT IN OUR HEARTS, MINDS, AND WORLD, AND WHAT ARE THE ACTION STEPS WE'LL NEED TO TAKE TO CULTIVATE THOSE SEEDS? THERE ARE TWO FULLY DEVELOPED LESSONS AS OPTIONS. THE ART PROJECT INVOLVES SELF-PORTRAITURE WITH FLOWERS BLOSSOMING AT THE CROWN OF THEIR HEADS, REPRESENTING "THOUGHT SEEDS" GROWING (OPTION 1). ALTERNATIVELY, STUDENTS MAKE FLOWERS AND WRITE THEIR "THOUGHT SEEDS" ON THE STEM (OPTION 2). THIS LESSON HAS CROSSOVER POSSIBILITIES WITH KNOWLEDGE OBJECTIVES IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. IS THIS MIRACLE ENOUGH? DEVELOPED BY 29 PIECES, STENA LEIB (LANESBORO, MN), MARIA GUTTIEREZ (SAN ANTONIO, TX), AND HOLLEY NEALY (LUBBOCK, TX) HOW DO WE TRADITIONALLY THINK ABOUT MIRACLES? THIS LESSON ASKS PARTICIPANTS TO CONSIDER THE MIRACLES IN FRONT OF THEM EVERY DAY, GIVING THEM NEW EYES TO SEE THE WORLD AND ITS PHENOMENA WITH WONDER, AWE, AND RESPECT. THERE ARE THREE OPTIONS PROVIDED FOR THE ART PROJECT: MAKING THAUMATROPES (TWO IMAGES BACK-TO-BACK, WHEN SPUN GIVE THE IMAGE OF THEM SUPERIMPOSED, SHOWING A "TRANSFORMATION"); MAKING EXPLODING BOOKS, WHEN UNFOLDED RESEMBLING A HONEYCOMB OR FLOWER; TAKING A "ONE STEP HIKE," FOCUSING ON ONE SMALL AREA (A SIDEWALK CRACK, A BIRDBATH, WOODCHIPS IN A GARDEN) AND MAKING A ZINE SHOWING EVERYTHING OBSERVED IN A 1 SQUARE FOOT AREA. THIS LESSON CAN CROSS OVER WITH KNOWLEDGE OBJECTIVES IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES. JOURNAL YOUR OBSERVATIONS DEVELOPED BY 29 PIECES, KAREN DOLES (GARDEN GROVE, CA), ARLENE SHELTON (ALEDO, TX), AND ANNETTE TRAMMELL (GRAND PRAIRIE, TX) WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU SLOWED DOWN LONG ENOUGH TO CONCENTRATE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME ON ONE THING? THIS LESSON WILL FOCUS ON THE SKILL AND REWARD OF LOOKING AT THINGS VERY CLOSELY. PARTICIPANTS ARE ASKED TO TAKE TIME TO OBSERVE, DESCRIBE IN WORDS OR IMAGE SOMETHING IN THE NATURAL WORLD, AND THEN REFLECT ON THAT EXPERIENCE. THE ART PROJECT INVOLVES DOCUMENTING DETAILED OBSERVATIONS OF ELEMENTS OBSERVED IN THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IN A JOURNAL WITH DRAWING, COLLAGE, DECORATIVE WRITING, PHOTOS, ETC. THIS LESSON SUPPORTS STUDENTS IN VALUING ONE-POINTED ATTENTION, THE DEEPENING BENEFITS OF "CLOSE READINGS,HAS CROSSOVER WITH NATURAL SCIENCES. PRINCIPLES OF FLIGHT CREATED BY 29 PIECES, ANNE FLIGHT (STRATTON, ME), KAREN ISBELL (DALLAS, TX), AND SARAH SEVIER (ATLANTA, GA) THIS LESSON FOCUSES ON THE IMPORTANCE OF LIFT, WEIGHT, THRUST, AND RESISTANCE IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING FLIGHT. DRAWING ON THE PHYSICS OF FLIGHT, STUDENTS WILL CONSIDER HOW THEIR OWN HOPES AND DREAMS "TAKE FLIGHT." WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO HAVE LIFT, THRUST, GRAVITY AND RESISTANCE IN BALANCE FOR DREAMS TO SOAR? WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE IN OUR OWN LIVES? THE ART PROJECT INVOLVES WINGED SELF-PORTRAITS INCLUDING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE FOUR ELEMENTS OF FLIGHT: THRUST, WEIGHT, RESISTANCE AND LIFT. THERE ARE THREE LESSON ADAPTATIONS, GEARED TO K-3, 3-5, AND 6-8 GRADES. THIS LESSON CROSSES OVER WITH KNOWLEDGE OBJECTIVES IN PHYSICAL SCIENCES. IMPACT 29 PIECES RECEIVED VERY POSITIVE RESPONSE IN QUALITATIVE EVALUATION OF THE FOUR NEW LESSONS DEVELOPED IN 2022. ON EFFECTIVENESS OF INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS: . 12 OF 12 TEACHERS STRONGLY AGREED THAT THE INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS CONTRIBUTED TO A QUALITY LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR THEIR STUDENTS. . "THIS WAS A VERY STRONG UNIT FOR US TO KICK OFF THE YEAR, SET GOALS FOR CREATIVITY AND RISK TAKING, AS WELL AS SET INTENTIONS TO STRIVE FOR ALL YEAR LONG IN OUR WORK. KAREN GAVE US SUCH A STRONG FOUNDATION TO BUILD FROM WHICH MADE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING THE UNIT VERY SUCCESSFUL." -LAUREN BOMBA, PS-5TH GRADES, MAURY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WASHINGTON DC (SEEDS) ON INTENTIONS FOR FUTURE LESSON FACILITATION . 10 OF 12 TEACHERS INDICATE THEY WILL CONTINUE TEACHING THE LESSON(S) IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. (ONE OF THE EDUCATORS TEACHES A STAAR TESTED DISCIPLINE AND SO MIGHT NOT HAVE THE SCHEDULING FLEXIBILITY TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL LESSON TO THE SEMESTER.) . "IT IS IMPORTANT TO STRESS THAT THIS LESSON REALLY DID HELP STUDENTS TO SLOW DOWN AND LOOK CLOSER FOR THE TINY MIRACLES AROUND THEM." -STENA LIEB, 7TH-8TH GRADE, LANESBORO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, LANESBORO, MN, (IS THIS MIRACLE ENOUGH?) . "STUDENTS LEARNED AND PRACTICED OBSERVATIONAL SKILLS REQUIRED TO GET DETAILED INFORMATION FROM A SUBJECT TO DRAW ACCURATELY. THIS IS A SKILL WE WILL USE ALL YEAR LONG WITHIN THE ART COURSE." KAREN DOLES, 9-12TH GRADES, RANCHO ALAMITOS HIGH SCHOOL, GARDEN GROVE, CA (JOURNAL YOUR OBSERVATIONS) ON RECOMMENDING TO COLLEAGUES . 11 OF 12 STRONGLY AGREED THAT THEY WOULD RECOMMEND THE LESSONS TO COLLEAGUES, AND 1 WOULD RECOMMEND IF ASKED BY COLLEAGUES . "THIS LESSON IS DYNAMIC AND FUN; CHALLENGING, BUT DOABLE! IT INCORPORATES MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF ACTIVITIES AND IS HIGHLY CUSTOMIZABLE FOR TEACHERS OF DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS AND SUBJECTS." -KAREN ISBELL, 9TH GRADE, CONRAD HIGH SCHOOL/EAGLE SCHOLARS PROGRAM, DALLAS, TX (PRINCIPLES OF FLIGHT) . "I THOUGHT THAT IT SPARKED GREAT DISCUSSIONS WITH MANY OF MY STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY WITH REGARDS TO SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING." -SARAH SEVIER, 5TH GRADE, BOLTON ACADEMY, ATLANTA, GA (PRINCIPLES OF FLIGHT) ON THE COLLABORATIVE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS: . 11 OF 12 TEACHERS STRONGLY AGREED THAT THE COLLABORATIVE PROCESS WAS ENGAGING AND ENJOYABLE. ONE TEACHER WISHED SHE HAD THE CHANCE TO COLLABORATE WITH A COLLEAGUE TEACHING AT SIMILAR GRADE LEVEL WITH COMPARABLE CLASS TIMES. . "I LOVED WORKING WITH KAREN AND THE OTHER TEACHERS ON THIS!" - JANE MAUS, 6TH-8TH GRADES, REAGAN MIDDLE SCHOOL, GRAND PRAIRIE, TX (SEEDS) . "REALLY NICE TO MEET EDUCATORS FROM AROUND THE NATION AND TO WORK WITH SOMEONE AS ORGANIZED AND PRO-ACTIVE AS KAREN." -LAUREN BOMBA, PS-5TH GRADES, MAURY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WASHINGTON DC (SEEDS) . "29 PIECES LESSONS ARE INHERENTLY INTERESTING AND ENGAGING, SO IT'S FUN TO THINK THROUGH REFINEMENTS AND RESOURCES WITH OTHER TEACHERS." - KAREN ISBELL, 9TH GRADE, CONRAD HIGH SCHOOL/EAGLE SCHOLARS PROGRAM, DALLAS, TX (PRINCIPLES OF FLIGHT) DEEPENING EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS AND BROADENING OUTREACH . 29 PIECES PRESENTED TWO IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS (COMMITMENT AND GREAT PEACEMAKERS) FOR REGIONAL EDUCATORS AT REGION TEN EDUCATION SERVICE CENTER IN JUNE 2022. . 29 PIECES CONTINUED TO REACH OUT TO EDUCATORS AND THE COMMUNITY THROUGH MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS AND PROMOTED LESSONS VIA DAILY SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS ON TWITTER, FACEBOOK, AND INSTAGRAM. CHALLENGES 29 PIECES CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE WITH FINDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS, FOLLOWING ON THE LONG-RANGE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THE CLOSURE OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY DURING COVID CREATED A CESSATION OF 29 PIECES PRESENCE IN SCHOOLS, AND WE CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE TO FIND CONNECTIONS FOR IN-PERSON LESSON PRESENTATION IN CHANGED PUBLIC SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS. 29 PIECES IS ALSO FACING CHALLENGES WITH GETTING TRADITIONAL MEDIA COVERAGE IN MAJOR NEWS BROADCASTS AND PUBLICATIONS. THE MEDI