smART Program Profile

Jowonio School & Barbara Furlong
“Animals and Their Habitat”

Partners: Barbara Furlong, Ceramist, preschool faculty, creative arts instructor.

Students: 31 3-4 year olds

BIG IDEA: To learn that a range of physical materials can be manipulated to re-present
information and ideas through scaffolding of artistic and life experiences.

Action: Students explored concepts of nature and habitat, experimented with many diverse materials, and created a ceramic mural.

Planning: Three to five pre-planning sessions with artist and faculty including a special seminar trip to Albany with the NY Foundation on the Arts, and weekly update sessions for the duration of the residency.

Implementation: Regular activities designed for physical material experience and for
thematic learning were a part of every day. Field trips, books, and guests added to the learning. Children designed individual pieces to contribute to large final, ceramic panels.

The artist met with students twice weekly for a three month period. Large group, small group, and individual instruction models varied accordingly.

Evaluation: Student reflection was the program design initiative. Weekly recording of
response and interest led the teachers toward future planning. Sequential progression of skill with materials indicated learning. Student attention and excitement was indicative (at this developmental level) of relevance and meaning.