Baldwin High School, Plaza Elementary School communicate through art

During the past school year, Baldwin High School’s advanced placement Art students and Plaza Elementary School’s kindergarten class were sending art journals back and forth to each other since the fall. Similar to traditional “pen pals” the young artists introduced themselves and communicated with artwork. 

“We thought it would be wonderful for our students to collaborate on something creative. After brainstorming, we developed this project.” Plaza Elementary School Teacher Tricia Wilder wrote in a news release. 

Since the kindergarteners were just beginning their school year and had limited reading and writing school, they focused on storytelling through pictures during their lessons. Liemur-Kelly, a high school art teacher, followed a similar approach with her students with expression through artwork. 

Throughout the year, the journals were exchanged and over time, as the kindergarten students’ skills progressed, they added labels to their drawings and eventually sentences.

In the final weeks of the school year, Wilder and Liemer-Kelly arranged a time for both classes to meet. The high school students presented their final art pieces to the kindergartners and together, they collaborated to improve the kindergartners' illustration skills.   

“This year-long project was a tremendous success, culminating in an exciting event,” Wilder wrote. “It was delightful to see the high schoolers relive their childhood through these games and the joy that the project brought to both groups of students. Mrs. Liemer-Kelly and I are excited to plan another collaboration next year.”