Fifth Grade Artists Create

Student artists have been immersed in a wide range of self-directed projects in Kay Silva’s 5th grade art classes.

A visit to any of Silva’s three 5th grade art classes reveals a truly wide range of work in progress. Some students are drawing, others are painting, some are constructing helmets out of cardboard and mylar, while others are drawing animals and others are making sculptures. Regardless of the project, students are happy and working with the materials, techniques and subject matter of their choosing.

These 5th graders are experiencing TAB learning—Teaching for Artistic Behavior—a nationally recognized pedagogy that enables students to act and be treated as artists who direct their own learning. TAB pedagogy complements the progressive teaching approach by allowing students to build artistic independence through design and technical skill building, freedom of expression, creative agency, voice and choice. 

At the onset of this year, Silva asked each student to choose a subject matter they are naturally drawn to and materials they prefer for creating art. Based on their responses, Silva encouraged each student to use time in class to explore artistic ideas by developing a design and experimenting with the materials and techniques that interest them. This authentic student choice ensures true engagement through intrinsic motivation in every class gathering. The curriculum is emergent with pop-up workshops that teach specific art skills happening whenever students ask for them. 

A 5th grader named Charlie shared more with Silva about his personal passion for setting up and knocking down elaborate domino creations. Recognizing excitement when she senses it, Silva encouraged this student to bring his dominoes to class so he could share his work with his peers. Silva’s room conveniently had a large countertop, which was the perfect size for this performance art.

While others worked in art class to draw, cut, construct and paint their creations, Charlie set up an intricate display of colored dominoes featuring architecture and a graphic of the school’s logo. With everything set, the entire class stood by as he tipped over the leading domino—causing a chain reaction of falling dominoes for all to witness.

Silva shared, “Kids love the TAB classroom! Today, when I asked them why, here’s what they said:

‘There are so many options and endless choices of what you can do in this class.’

‘I like to see all of the different, original ideas of everyone else in my class.’

‘I get to do my own thing with my friends and it’s really fun.’

‘I get to express myself and put whatever is in my mind into a project. I transfer my thoughts into art.’

‘We have the freedom to unleash our creativity.’

‘We get to spend time doing what we love.’

‘In this class, everyone, everyone can be heard.’

‘We can let our imaginations go wild.’”

And as Steve Jobs said, “If you are working on something exciting that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.”

Enjoy a video of the domino fun below and click here for photos of these students engaged in Silva’s classroom last year and this year.