Canyon students merge science, art
ROSE LAKE – The Oregon Coast Children’s Theatre and Youth Art Center is working with teachers, students and volunteers at Canyon Elementary School to create a mosaic mural depicting life along the Coeur d’Alene River. The name for the project is the “Canyon River Life.”
The project incorporates the school in becoming a science magnet, explained principal Sue Hansen-Barber. “The river is what connects all of us,” while adding almost all the students live near the river.
Working under the direction of Lawrence Adrian, the artistic director, the school first comes up with a concept; Canyon chose natural environment. Then the students made drawings of the wildlife and native plants in the area. The school sent a photo of the Coeur d’Alene Valley, which Adrian drew, then placed all the students’ artwork into the drawing.
A bobcat, a black bear, an elk, squirrels, Canada geese and an eagle flying with a fish in his talons are all of the contributions made by these young students, including the pine trees, mountain ash and flowers. “It’s all things you can see in the Coeur d’Alene River area,” said Hansen-Barber.
More than half the students helped contribute art to the 3-by-20-foot mosaic mural to be hung inside on the entry wall. Until the dedication on Monday, students, teachers and volunteers will be cutting tiles, spreading glue and placing little bits of color to create a flow that sparkles like life on the river.
“The idea of doing a mosaic, an ancient art form,” explains Adrian, “is that it is very easy for young students to learn the process of mosaic. It’s very hands on. For them, it like doing a giant puzzle.”
Canyon is a three-room rural school built in the early 1950s. At one time they had more than 100 students; today there are 61 children ranging from kindergarten through fifth grade. “We are a very small rural school,” said Hansen-Barber. “We’ve been trying to find a way to keep our school viable as part of the district. During times of money crunch, small outlying schools are always looked at.”
Canyon has been looking at providing something in the district to give families of elementary school-age children a choice in the curriculum.
“Science seemed an easy choice, because of where our kids live.”
To become a science magnet school, it must emphasize science in all subjects. In addition, the school is doing quarterly science themes school wide. All kids work on the same theme, but only at their level.
Last year they did a big project with the Idaho Noxious Weed Department trying to eradicate knapweed from the area. This year, they did a science event, the “three states of matter,” and they studied the ocean. Also, this natural mural project and another big project are being planned for this spring.
Funding for the project was provided by the Canyon School Organization and a grant by the Idaho Arts Commission. Additional grants are provided through the Oregon Coast Children’s Theatre and Youth Art Center.
Although the district does not fund an art program for any of the elementary students, Canyon has art volunteers who do art activities with the students. “Part of what we know, is that art instruction is really valuable education,” said Hansen-Barber.
The school started doing grants with Idaho Arts Commission for three years to bring out a certified art instructor. Last year, the grant provided them with instructions and material to make masks.