3.9.9 Integrating Art and the Smithsonian Learning Lab in the Gifted Language Arts Classroom

As STEM has now incorporated the Arts to become STEAM, art should become an essential element of every classroom curriculum. The Smithsonian Learning Lab is a free online tool that allows users to create interactive collections using resources from all the Smithsonian museums. Come and see practical applications that allow teachers to combine various forms of media into catalysts inspiring careful observation, thoughtful discussion, and creative writing in the gifted language arts classroom. Although the focus of this course is on the arts and humanities, teachers from other subject areas will find this resource applicable to their classrooms as well.

Author(s):

Yolanda Toni
ytoni@fairview.k12.il.us
Fairview South School
United States

Yolanda Toni teaches and coordinates the gifted ELA program for grades 3-8 at Fairview South School in Skokie, Illinois. Over thirty languages from around the world are represented in this culturally diverse district. Yolanda earned her B.A. in elementary education from Barat College. She also completed a M.S. in education and social policy and a certificate in the gifted at Northwestern University. She participated in summer institutes at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Poetry Foundation because she enjoys finding ways to share her enthusiasm for the arts, culture, and literature with her students.