Setting a Stage for Creativity from Home
Jennifer Davis and students at Benjamin Logan Middle School displaying signs they created for the STREAM Innovation Center where they work on projects in science, technology, reading, engineering, art, and math.
“As one door closed another needed to open…While it was a challenge to teach and learn remotely, the students continued to utilize 21st Century Skills… I greatly missed their in-person positivity, curiosity, and middle school energy.”
- Jennifer Davis, Visual Arts Instructor, Benjamin Logan Middle School, MHJF 2019 Master Teacher
The Benjamin Logan Middle School’s staff and students enjoyed utilizing their STREAM Innovation Center and Makerspace during the 2019-2020 school year. 21st Century Skills and the 4 C’s were at the core of the STREAM Center activities, as groups communicated ideas through conversations, music, writing, artwork and other modes. Project-based and problem-based learning promoted critical thinking skills among the students as they explored and discovered while working on projects. Integration of science, technology, reading/language arts, engineering, art and math resulted in collaboration among staff and student groups. During hands-on activities, students were engaged as they solved complex questions and challenges together. The center’s inviting makerspace allowed for creativity as they invented, built, wrote and reflected on projects. The STREAM Center was filled with activity as students enjoyed all that the space had to offer.
Early in the school year, MHJF Master Teacher Jennifer Davis introduces students to some of the new kits and materials that will be available in the school’s Innovation Center.
By way of the 2019 Martha Holden Jennings Master Teacher Award, art teacher Jennifer Davis was able to purchase makerspace station carts and makerspace art supplies, a LEGO wall with LEGO kits and books, and reusable solar powered robot kits. Along with these permanent additions to the STREAM Center, a year’s subscription to KiwiCo for 12 Maker Crates and 12 Tinker Crates per month was purchased. The equipment, kits and supplies promoted discovery and perseverance as students investigated and invented together. Creative thinking was at the forefront as students imagined possibilities, set goals, and achieved through various activities.
A STREAM Center adventure began in October, as a plan was mapped out for a student focused puppet show experience funded by an Ohio Arts Council grant. A collaboration kicked off that included the school principal, three guest artists, and teachers of language arts, STEM, visual arts, band and music tech. The school’s REACH program (respect, empower, accept, care & help) became the emphasis of the script. Students took on the following tasks: writing, puppet/set creation, mechanics of puppets/special effects, sound effects, playing theme music, connecting science to plants and creatures in the story, stage crew, readers (puppet voices), and puppet manipulators. In mid-March the students, guest artists and participating teachers came together for a few days of dress rehearsals. The students grew through the process, and shined during the performance rehearsals, while discovering new levels of creativity in themselves.
The puppet show In the Garden was not able to be performed for a live audience, as schools were closed the day following the dress rehearsals due to the covid-19 pandemic. As one door closed, another needed to open. Art educator Jennifer Davis and guest artist Tristan had to develop a plan for distance learning during an artist-in-residence program. A plan was devised for students to continue the art of puppetry, connected to STREAM, while learning from their homes. The art of shadow box puppetry became the focus, a lesson requiring items that students had at home. Tristan created teaching videos from his studio and Jennifer sent the videos out to students along with guidance and lesson objectives.
“Just like in our STREAM Center, students had to solve problems and meet challenges. I was reminded of how flexible educators must be and how adaptable students are. We all grew during 2019-2020, in ways we had not imagined earlier in the school year.”
Storyboards
Student creativity resulted in shadow box puppet shows made at home.
“A plan as devised for students to continue the art of puppetry, while learning from their homes…The imaginations continued to soar and production of whimsical STREAM projects continued.”
“While it was a challenge to teach and learn remotely, the students continued to utilize the 21st Century Skills. The STREAM program continued as students developed storyboards, built functioning shadow boxes, made puppets, and produced puppet shows. We all missed the art room, STREAM Center, and wealth of art materials typically at our fingertips. I greatly missed the students’ in-person positivity, curiosity, and middle school energy. The biggest challenge was the lack of technology for so many students, resulting in communication issues for videos to be sent and for students to send me questions, photos, and project results. For most though, the communication and project completion was a success. Just like in our STREAM Center, students had to solve problems and meet challenges. I was reminded of how flexible educators must be, and how adaptable students are. We all grew during 2019-2020, in ways we had not imagined earlier in the school year. We all look forward to teaching and learning in person once again, utilizing our incredible STREAM Center together!