Jean Burdick, the art teacher at Town Center Elementary School, received a Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation grant for a third grade student project at the school. The project was devised to celebrate the diversity in the school district and community through the arts in conjunction with the grade three level curriculum featuring a social studies unit on immigration with an emphasis on cultural roots.##M:[more]##
The students created individual self-portraits, which were combined for class fabric banners. After researching traditional clothing from their countries of origin, the students created preliminary sketches and their final drawings of self-portraits.
Burdick scanned the self-portraits and printed them on iron-on transfer paper. The individual portraits were arranged for each third grade class banner. A patterned fabric backing was added and embroidery thread was stitched and knotted to tie the layers of fabric together.
The opening reception and celebration will be held on Friday, May 16, at 7 p.m. The banners will be permanently displayed in the classrooms and hallways in the school.
