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Lesson Plans


RE: backpacks & trust/art-on-a cart

From: Bill and Donna Cummins (bdm3c)
Date: Sun Mar 19 2000 - 16:35:15 PST

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    Hi Ann C,
    Years ago, I too, had to teach art-on-a-cart. While the facility was a new school and extremely large, student enrollment exceeded the number of classrooms needed, thus requiring many portables. Eventually sidewalks (some were covered walkways) were laid out on the hilly terrain. When I realized that I would have to negotiate a large av cart filled with art supplies for students in 6 classes (K-12) daily, from inside the school to portables outside, over uneven walkways (tends to slow ones' travel time) and in weather that was occasionally inclement, I developed my own Art Attack Pick-Up and Delivery Service that turned out to be a wonderful experience.
     
    The schedule was ridiculous: classes were scheduled back to back without even one minute allotted for travel! Knowing that it would be impossible for me to retrieve any forgotten items once the day began, I "hired" a select group of 12 mature 5th graders to be my Creative Couriers, with 6 alternates to sub for sick couriers. They wore muslin aprons and a painters hat that said "Creative Couriers". With my own money (as if I could really afford it!) I bought 6 of those giant Rubbermaid tubs (one per grade level/art project) that held absolutely all of the tools and materials needed for art projects that week. On Fridays after school, I prepared each tub for the next weeks projects: I spent hours cutting just the right amount of paper, in whatever size/color/type, etc. I would need. Tools and supplies were meticulously counted and itemized on my "Art Materials/Tools Inventory Sheets", and placed inside each tub. (Teachers were responsible for making sure no one got into the tubs and had to "sign-off" on the sheet before a courier could pick it up and return to the art supply room).
     
    Kids were divided into teams of two (the tubs were often heavy, so it took two kids to hold the tubs with one hand each. Each team was assigned one particular grade level, so they had 5 teacher/classrooms per tub (one delivery/pick-up per day). Teams met me at 7:50 AM each day, at the art supply room to get their tub, then hurried off to deliver it to their scheduled classroom (the week's itinerary was always taped to the lid of each grade level/art project tub so that each team knew exactly where to deliver their tub. By 8 AM, all 6 tubs had been transported to their scheduled destination and were there waiting for me when I arrived for their art period. Creative Couriers then returned to those classrooms at the end of the 6th period to pick-up the tubs. Before leaving the room, however, they were required to get the teachers' signature on their Art Materials/Tools Inventory Sheet. My elaborate scheme paid off. Sure it was tiring and time consuming. But stuff no longer "disappeared". Students and teachers were partners with me in making sure the delivery/pick-up service would succeed (each knew they were accountable). The service taught responsibility and allowed me to concentrate on the quality of my art instructional approach without being out-of-breath and out-of-materials.

    Now that I'm teaching in a highschool, I require all students to place their coats and bookbags on the counter or on the shelves located under the chalkboard, right inside the art lab. Sure they gripe. And all of my cabinets are now equipped with locks. Sadly, I must remain vigilant about keeping stuff out-of-sight in order to prevent it from ending up out-of-room. Good luck to you!
    Donna 

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