Current projects
Teacher-artist-scientist network 2023-2024
We are currently recruiting elementary school teachers and CU students from across the arts and science. Please get in touch.
Previous projects
Teacher-artist-scientist network - 2022-2023
Twenty one undergraduate and graduate students, studying dance, music, environmental engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, computer science and education, worked with five elementary school teachers from Maxwell and Colombian Elementary Schools. This project included a summer professional development day for teachers, training sessions for CU students, collaborative brainstorming sessions for curriculum development and school visits. We would like to thank CU Office for Outreach and Engagement for supporting this project.
CU Science Discovery Engineering Day - 2023
Elementary Arts Lab had an exhibit at CU Science Discovery’s Engineering Day where we used sand painting to explore the concept that everything is made of atoms.
Collaboration with Heatherwood Elementary - May 2022
Elementary arts lab worked with teachers from Heatherwood Elementary to deliver eight sessions to 3rd grade students on the topics of balanced and unbalanced forces, friction, magnets and electricity. We would like to thank CU Office for Outreach and Engagement for supporting this project.
After school club with GAMES - April 2021
Elementary Arts Lab collaborated with Girls At the Museum Exploring Science (GAMES) after school club to explore space through art and movement activities with students at Sanchez Elementary and Emerald Elementary. We would like to thank CU Office for Outreach and Engagement for supporting this project.
Curriculum development with BVSD - 2021
Elementary Arts Lab worked with Sara Nelson, a curriculum developer with the Strategic Initiatives department of Boulder Valley School District, to develop lesson plans and resources for 4th grade students on energy and waves. In these lessons, the children will investigate energy and energy transfers with their bodies. They will consider different types of waves and how they travel and use movement to explore pitch, volume and color. Finally, they will investigate different sources of electricity, the limitations of each source and the effect of supply and demand on the electricity grid using a movement game. We would like to thank CU Office for Outreach and Engagement for supporting this project. Lesson plans are available here.
Uni Hill - May 2021
Elementary arts lab collaborated with elementary art and music teachers Mary Powell and Becca Spence at Uni Hill Elementary to develop workshops for 3rd grade over nine weeks. In art, we discussed atoms, exploring the idea that everything is made of atoms using pointillism and sand painting. We investigated the states of matter, using art media that reflected the properties of solids, liquids and gases. Through creating their own planet, the children considered days, years and the conditions necessary to sustain life. In music, the children explored light and color through the work of Kandinsky and sound waves through a movement orchestra. They learned a poem and a dance to understand weather and use movement games to explore the water cycle. Due to COVID, all this collaboration was virtual. We would like to thank CU Office for Outreach and Engagement for supporting this project.