PAWS Integrated Arts Program at Woodburn

Overview

A entirely volunteer-run art program that reaches all Woodburn students; focuses on making art, and presents project lessons based on key elements of art.

Mission

Help students develop an understanding of art as a way of learning about themselves, and the world around them.

Philosophy

There are no mistakes in art! We start our first project with many classes by reading Barney Saltzberg’s Beautiful Oops. Saltzberg demonstrates how a torn piece of paper, or a drip of paint, can become something amazing when you explore your creativity.

Curriculum

We focus on students doing art, more so than art history, major artists, or specific techniques. Although this focus may change at some point, PAWS decided to begin the program that way.

Each lesson highlights one to three elements of art:

Line
Shape
Form
Space
Color
Value
Texture

Past lessons have included watercolor, batik, ceramics, weaving and print-making.

Volunteers

Click here to view our PAWS Integrated Arts Welcome Video

The PAWS Integrated Arts Program has been developed and implemented by parent volunteers. Program organizers work on the curriculum for the year and once school begins create a schedule with Woodburn teachers.

Volunteer tasks include:

In classroom—Lead or assist with lesson (training provided), including: set-up, distribute supplies, encourage students, help students stay on task, clean-up.
During school day—prepare project supplies (cutting materials to size, portioning paint into cups and so on), prepare/restock supply bins for each project and classroom, fire clay in kiln.
Evenings/weekends—prepare projects to go home with kids (like clay pendants with instructions for hanging), prepare project supplies, shop for supplies, help at PAWS events that have an art program presence.