Hopes, Dreams and Healing Garden

One goal this year was to improve family engagement and encourage parents to take part in the school. Across from Jeannette’s class was a garden area that looked abandoned; it wasn’t appealing and students never enjoyed the area.

Through collaboration with a local artist, Carolyn King, Jeannette and her students created a plan for the area. Then they planned some family art nights to engage students with their family members in the process of beautification through clay creations.

The students were so excited, they begged to make banners for these very exciting nights, and together they posted banners all over the school. Over multiple family nights, families came and collaborated on shapes and themes, formed different shapes with clay, and painted their shapes. Finally, after the shapes were glazed and ready to go, students decorated the garden with the beautiful clay art.

Project length

1 month

Resources

None

  • My students gained new knowledge in working with pottery, and they experienced this with their families. It was very special to see generations of families working together for a community project; their smiles and joy shined bright.

    Jeanette Roybal, Teacher
  • Wow, I really like how pretty our garden is and I was here to make it!

    1st Grade Student
  • I really like having my Mama and Poppa here to do art with me, I am so lucky.

    1st Grade Student
  • My dad is really good at making shapes, look at the butterfly he made.

    1st Grade Student
  • I love working with art.

    1st Grade Student
  • I learned to respect stuff that is not yours and that art and painting clay is about painting the top and not the sides.

    1st Grade Student
  • Mistakes are ok.

    1st Grade Student
  • I learned that we could mix up the colors.

    1st Grade Student
  • We were lucky to have a grandpa come in and help us, it was great and his grandson was so honored and proud to have his grandpa be a part of our project.

    Jeannette Ortiz-Roybal, 1st Grade Teacher
  • ...my students often ask if they can work outside in our garden. It has now become such a special place for our school and this is all thanks to Community Share.

    Jeannette Ortiz-Roybal, 1st Grade Teacher
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