What’s Coming Up at Art Sphere
Our dedicated team of teachers and volunteers has been hard at work planning lessons that will spark curiosity, inspire learning, encourage collaboration, and foster growth. Just as the alphabet is the foundation of language, our lesson plans are the building blocks for a year filled with discovery. Each letter brings a new adventure – from “A” for art projects that unleash creativity to “Z” for zipping through stories that take us to far-off places.
Numbers are another part of the fun! Did you know that a single number can open a world of learning? For example, the number 5 can represent the fingers on a hand, the petals on a flower, or the senses we use to explore the world. Our lesson plans are designed to help children connect with numbers in a way that’s as natural as counting their favorite toys or sharing their snacks with friends.
Every lesson is crafted with the unique needs and interests of our young learners in mind. Whether it’s mastering the ABCs or exploring the magic of numbers, we’re here to support them every step of the way.
As we start a new school year, we’re filled with joy and anticipation.
Warm regards,
Kristin and the Art Sphere Team
How You Can Make a Difference
It’s wonderful to share the impactful work that Art Sphere Inc. is doing to provide free art programs and resources to the community, especially during a time when such opportunities may be limited. Supporting organizations like ours is crucial for the well-being and development of children and families.
For those looking to make a difference and contribute to Art Sphere Inc.’s mission, here are some ways to help:
1. Spread the Word: Share Art Sphere Inc.’s mission and initiatives with your friends, family, and social networks. Word of mouth can be a powerful tool in raising awareness. Engage with Art Sphere Inc. on social media platforms. Like, share, and comment on our posts to help broaden our reach.
2. Donate: Consider making a donation to Art Sphere Inc. Every contribution, no matter the size, can make a meaningful impact.
3. Volunteer: If possible, offer your time and skills to support Art Sphere Inc.’s programs. Volunteers can play a vital role in helping with classes, workshops, and events.
4. Corporate Sponsorship: Explore partnerships with local businesses or corporations that may be interested in supporting community initiatives. Corporate sponsorships can provide additional resources and visibility.
Remember, every little bit helps, and collective efforts can lead to positive change.
Several students were excited to show their parents their new books and related artwork.
One class focused on the story “Not Norman”, about a boy who discovers that he loves his pet fish and learns the meaning of friendship.The teacher read the book and had the students repeat the words “Not Norman” to engage the class.
Students liked the story because it got them thinking about what pets they want to have, about the pets they do have and why they love them. Students made their own book covers and wrote their own stories.
As one Site Director said “ASI makes the summer camps educationally enriched with valuable resources that make the time spent together feel important with special perks.” “The students feel special as ASI supplies the books and the individual attention that they don’t always have at home.”
Enrich your holidays by doing these special handouts with your children.
Calling High School Girls!
Thanks to the generous support of a AERIE REAL FOUNDATION™ COMMUNITY GRANT, we can provide “The Creating Legacies through Art for Women” a service-learning program for high school girls, who want to learn more about working in the arts.
We are inviting high school girls to intern with us as volunteers where they will work alongside certified teachers and gain valuable skills from our thoughtful and meaningful training program. Participants must commit to meeting at one of our Learning Partners sites (a local recreation center) or virtual for 2 hours a week for a 10-week program.
To learn more about becoming a volunteer, mentor or an intern contact info@artsphere.org.
Become a part of our community! Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or volunteer, there are endless opportunities to support our mission of empowering young minds through art. Join us in making a difference today.
We are offering several classes through Lights on After School, a nationwide event celebrating after-school programs and the important role this organization plays in the lives of children, families and communities.
Discover how you can make a positive impact in your community, unleash your creativity, and have fun along the way through Service Learning on Monday, October 7th from 5 pm – 6 pm.
Join us on Monday, October 28th, from 6 pm to 6:45 pm for a fun and creative virtual workshop on making your own silly Halloween cartoons! You will be filled with playful techniques to help you bring your Halloween-inspired stories to life.
At Art Sphere, we believe that art is a powerful tool for fostering social-emotional learning. In our interview with one of our inspiring teachers, we explore how art helps students reflect on what makes them unique and wonderful. Through creative activities, like drawing what’s inside their hearts, students express feelings of love, peace, and joy. Our program focuses on developing empathy and positive mindsets, making each art session a meaningful journey of self-discovery. Learn more about how we incorporate social-emotional learning in every lesson.
We’re sharing our Blast from the Past post to give everyone a look into ASI’s 26-year history!
Teachers and parents – looking for fresh ideas for your classroom or a rainy weekend at home with the kids? Explore our latest fall curriculum for creative ways to decorate a doorway!
Many parents hesitate when thinking about signing their child up for music lessons. Often they worry that it will be a waste of time and money if their child doesn’t continue long term.
Here are a few reasons why Art Sphere believes music education is essential for personal growth and creativity.
Discover how it has impacted the lives of celebrities and historical figures who played an instrument.
Did you know that the practice of giving apples to teachers in the U.S. can be traced back to the early 1800’s. Rural farming families with little money would pay their childrens’ teachers with food. Apples were the best choice because of their abundance and ease of transport. Teachers were increasingly seen as role models and mentors in the early 19th century, so the gifting of an apple was a way to let them know students respected their hard work. To celebrate the fall season, try your hand at making an apple art project, or these recipes for making an apple caramel or apple pie.
Check out student highlights from our summer programs including: Self-Portraits in watercolor and crayon resist, Social Media Collage so the students can create their own business page, Collage using magazines, Comic Strips using single line drawing, Heart Drawing expressing feelings and connect with emotions with the use of art expression, Collage of who they want to become, using a cutout of a magazine, and Gratitude Trees to show what they are grateful for this year.
“Volunteering at ASI was really fun for me! I enjoyed the variety of tasks and the fact that no two days were the same. The people I worked with were wonderful, and the mix of tasks made my time here fulfilling and exciting.”
IT Team
“Volunteering at Art Sphere Inc. has been an amazing experience, and leading comics workshops was incredible! Watching students discover their creative voices and tell their stories through sequential art was truly inspiring. Creating original handouts for these workshops was so much fun, and it allowed me to blend my passion for art and education so that young artists can explore the world of comics!”
Teacher Team
How ASI Helps Children Love to Learn and Enjoy Working With Each Other
Our art classes give students an opportunity to talk about motives, feelings, personalities, and deeper intentions.
Some of our students are very quiet and struggle with speaking in English. This project was fun, for youth who may have verbal challenges because they could show their classmates their artwork and others could understand what their story was about. We made small origami books for students who wanted to continue making their own books.
In class, we also made 3-D paper projects. These included origami butterflies where students learned the idea of symmetry and asymmetry, folding in half, and the art of paper folding.
Two sisters collaborated on making the story and the illustrations about their dog. It was exciting to see them work together so closely and reminisce about the great times they had with their dog and why their dog behaves in certain ways.
Students made portraits and then described how the portrait represented an important person in their life, why that person was so important, and how that person‘s personality came through in the artwork.
One of the students shared her dream of having a pet bird that talks so that she can talk with the bird when she feels lonely.
A heartfelt thank you to our supporters, volunteers, and partners for making our programs possible. Together, we’re building a brighter future through art!
Art Sphere Inc. would like to thank the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, AERIE REAL FOUNDATION™ COMMUNITY GRANT, Read By 4th, Philly Book Bank, First Book, William Penn Foundation, and our other supporters for all of their support!
We wouldn’t be able to bring impactful free classes to our students without your help, and we hope to continue to make a difference in our underserved communities across Philadelphia.
Please go and learn how this organization helps to support cultural nonprofits every year in our city.
. . . and that wraps up this edition of the Art Sphere Bulletin. Thank you so much for reading our update this quarter. Be sure to follow us on social media for more fun activities!
Website: ArtSphere.org | Email: info@artsphere.org
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