Project Impact

In this 6-10 day residency, artist Gerry Fierst devotes each visit to a different story structure.

Trickster tales, accumulation stories, fables, tall tales, transformation tales and circle tales are some of the forms emphasized.

Children learn how stories are constructed and are encouraged to share their own family and traditional tales.

Each session includes a story to take home and a writing project based on the week’s focus.

This residency sharpens listening and comprehension skills and supports standards for writing, self-expression and oral presentation. 

Grades 2-6

This 2-3 week residency begins with an introductory drawing lesson on breaking larger drawings into smaller pieces.

Using the knowledge gained from the introduction, students will draw a small graph over a photo of themselves. A larger graph will be lightly drawn on drawing paper and the students will be asked to copy square by square from the original.

They will then learn how to use drawing pencils for shading and apply that information to create shadows in their drawings. 

Grades 6-12

In this imaginative, hands-on, 5-day residency, students conceptualize and create a miniature environment in a box.

The design may be a representation of a memorable occasion, cultural event, seasonal setting, futuristic room, or any other theme the class and teacher decide upon.

An extension of the curriculum is also a possibility. For example: a scene representative of colonial life for Social Studies or a scene from a book in Language Arts.

Materials used to create the shadow box will include “found” items from home and nature, along with yarn, foam shapes, cardboard, tape and more.

This residency exercises critical-thinking, problem solving and hand/eye coordination skills. Students also learn many techniques, such as painting, and the use a variety of materials to create their 3-dimensional design.

Grades 4-8
Curriculum Connections: Visual Arts, Social Studies, Theater Arts, Language Arts Literacy