Teachers, artists, students bring curriculum to life through ArtsSmarts program

Island teachers and artists are working collaboratively to enrich learning and engage students in new and creative ways.

There are currently eight projects happening Islandwide during the 15th year of ArtsSmarts, a national initiative that fuses everyday learning with the arts.

Projects allow students to apply what they are learning in various subjects through artsbased activities that include dance, music, theatre or fine arts.

Projects are currently underway at Mount Stewart Consolidated, École Évangéline, West Kent Elementary, Queen Charlotte Intermediate and Eliot River Elementary.

Grade 7 students at Queen Charlotte are creating a 3D P.E.I. ecosystem completely out of papier mâché.

The Scientifically Artistic Ecosystem project encourages students to combine their knowledge of science with fine arts while building valuable collaboration skills.

They will craft local animals such as coyotes, foxes, rabbits and owls out of papier mâché. The 3D ecosystem is one of three ArtsSmarts projects happening at Queen Charlotte this year.

Students, teachers and artists will be sharing photos and videos of their progress on these projects using the hashtag #ArtsSmartsPEI on social media.

Exhibitions will be held in May at the schools, Confederation Centre of the Arts and Eptek National Exhibiton Centre to showcase the students’ hard work and creativity.

SUBMITTED Education Minister Jordan Brown, teacher Rachelle Ward and artist Linda Shaw Packard observe as Queen Charlotte students begin making papier mâché animals as part of their ArtsSmarts project.