Exploration is all about getting to learn outside of our classroom. For two weeks in December, we stopped our regular daily schedule and focused on different social issues. The periods were 1.5-2 hours, focusing on one issue at the time. This is how long college classes are! These issues were bullying, racial stereotypes, homophobia and disabilities. During our classes we would read articles, watch videos and look at art.
During the two weeks of Exploration, we thought about the question, “Can art change the world?” The pieces of art we looked at expressed a feeling or thought on a specific issue. When we had gotten a sense of what other people had done with art on social issues, we started thinking of what we could do with art. We made original pieces of art expressing or showing our thoughts about a specific issue like bullying or racial stereotypes. We also made editorials where we answered the question, “Can art change the world?” Everyone’s piece of writing was different, expressing their own idea on the question.
During the Exploration we also went on field trips. We went to the United Nations and looked at Knotted Gun and Good Defeats Evil. We also went to MoMA PS1, where we saw art from African American artists in Los Angeles (in the 1980s). And finally, we went to Crown Heights and looked at murals that expressed a thought or idea on gun violence. In Crown Heights, we also went to an organization called YO-SOS. This organization taught teenagers about gun violence and the teenagers created art or expressed themselves about gun violence. In addition to the field trips, we had people come and talk to us in school.
At the end of the Exploration, we had an exciting exhibit showing all of our writing and artwork. Some people even read their editorials out loud for the parents.
But it doesn’t end there. We have two more Exploration Units this year! We all look forward to this new experience and hope that kids at PS 8 will also enjoy it one day.
By Elsa Haffenberg, Class 602