Home Connection – 5th Grade River Currents Tour
In the Davenport Community School District, students are encouraged to “think big” about the world around them and their role in the community. Each year the Davenport Schools Foundation partners with our schools to offer a series of Great Minds activities to all elementary aged students in the district. These Great Minds activities provide students with a real-world experience, each blending experiential learning and grade level benchmarks in reading, math, science, social studies and the creative arts.
Fifth Grade Great Minds Activity
Students take a trip in the spring to the Figge Museum of Art and to the River Music Experience in downtown Davenport. They explore the curricular theme of evaluating art-making and music performance as well as relating the fine arts to history and culture.
You can support your child’s Great Mind’s experience by exploring and discussing this theme at home. It can be as simple as incorporating some of the simple vocabulary terms listed below or by trying some of the simple activities suggested below.
Home Activities
Big Idea: Observing Art & Music
- Visit an art exhibition or museum
- Attend a concert
- Watch an arts documentary on TV
- Explore some of the many arts websites on-line
Vocabulary: regionalism, realism, appreciation, texture, medieval, renaissance, classic, modern, abstract, impressionism
Big Idea: Making Art & Music
- Create a work of art with things in your home and garage
- Make an instrument with stuff around the house
- Compose a blues song with words and a melody
Vocabulary: mural, sculpture, painting, creativity, design, drawing, materials, mobile, compose, harmony, melody, lyrics
Big Idea: Reading About Local Art and Music Events
- Use the newspaper’s arts and entertainment section
- Read reviews of art shows and concerts
Vocabulary: exhibition, studio, boutique, concert, performance
Reading selections:
“How Children Make Art” by George Szekely, Teachers college Press 2006
“What to Listen For In Music” by Aaron Copland
Internet/Library Resources:
http://www.figgeart.org
www.qcsymphony.com
www.carnegiehall.org
www.classicsforkids.com
www.dsokids.com
www.playmusic.org
Community Connections:
Local Art Exhibitions & Concerts – public schools, colleges, community ensembles
Professional Art Venues – Figge Art Museum, Bucktown Center for the Arts, Quad City Airport, John Bloom Gallery, Left Bank Gallery, Quad City Arts
Professional Music Ensembles – Quad City Symphony, Quad City Wind Ensemble, Nova Singers
Art & Music Festivals – Riverssance Festival of Fine Arts, Beaux Arts, Bix Jazz Festival, Mississippi Blues Fest
Just for Grade 5
Dates:
Feb. 27th: During Specials time, a representative from the Figge will be coming to speak to the 5th grade class about the museum.
Tuesday, March 6 : Field Trip Day!
