If you walk by the Arts Learning Centre at Art Commons, you may see students smiling while playing with puppets or using funny voices to bring a sock alive. One may assume that the students are just playing around –– and while this might be true, there’s so much more happening beneath the surface.
Arts Commons Education believes that access to the arts is a basic human right. We strive to inspire our future leaders to imagine the world as it could be while being good caretakers of this world now.
Each week when a class enters our building, we have the privilege of co-learning and making with students, teachers, and volunteers for what is the equivalent of a blip of time in their lives. The Education team needs to move intentionally and quickly –– while being mindful and collaborative –– to welcome and meet the needs of our community. The result? Connection, impact, and growth.
And yes, you may see a bit of colourful macaroni flying around. But our team lives in the power of the arts every day, and we know that the arts create so much more than what a bystander may witness.
“I learned that I can sew!” - Brian, Grade 5/6 student
Behind this wonderful puppet workshop with teaching artist Jenny Dale (@jennydaledesigns), students experienced:
Joy and delight: many were surprised by their amazing creativity
Skill building: students had the opportunity to learn something new and can use these skills in the future
Fine motor skills: built through cutting, sewing, fastening, and manipulating their puppets
Language development and exploration: students explored storytelling in groups with their puppets and created thank-you videos for ConocoPhillips, our sponsor
Problem-solving: revising and editing their work through challenges encountered
Imagination: creating their own characters, voices and stories through creativity
Storytelling: finding their voice(s) through narration and collaboration with other classmates
Social and emotional development: students were able to play, create and work with others
Community: worked together to find belonging through the invitation to play
Confidence: many students reflected that their classmates were happier, smiled more and were excited throughout the week. One student noted, “We helped each other more.”
The arts facilitators also witnessed students grow in confidence through creative expression. It was a joy to witness.
As students return to the classroom, arts-infused experiences undoubtedly enrich their learning. Teachers use these puppets as a jumping-off point to develop literacy skills through written and oral storytelling, communication, and listening, and soft skills help them navigate the growing world around them. Who knew all of this came along with a puppet-making workshop?
Karen Youngberg
As a performing arts professional, Karen passionately believes in the power of the arts to impact, inspire, and create change. She creates transformative arts experiences that invite and immerse students, educators, artists, and community members in programs that open minds through arts-inspired education.
Karen is committed to sharing the joy of live theatre, music, dance and visual arts with Albertans of all ages, as well as sharing her unnatural love of Corey Hart with anyone who will listen.
