Episode 15: Podcast Recap

In this episode, we talk about creating a curriculum focused primarily on cultures. This is one of our favorite ways to organize a curriculum but we need to put a disclaimer out there because we know it can be a touchy subject. 

We are two, white women, who teach in a primarily white area that is rapidly changing. We felt our curriculum really needed to reflect our students and help them be seen and identify with the artists we teach about. If anything we say in our podcast or has written here is inaccurate, please let us know. We aren’t perfect, but we are striving to make all of our students feel comfortable with the art we are teaching and expose them to cultures other than their own.

Styles seem to feel most comfortable because that’s how most of us were taught; we take a lot of art history classes in college and you learn about the greats. If you’re interested in teaching about cultures, make sure you do your research, be up front with your students especially if they are from a culture you are teaching about. They will appreciate that so much. Cultures seem to allow for a lot more freedom within students’ artwork and is a great way to expose them to different cultures. Even if you live in a community that isn’t very diverse, your students may have friends or family members who are and would appreciate seeing that as well.

One thing we always aim to do within our curriculum is if there is an appreciation month, week, day, etc. celebrating that culture, we try to make sure we teach about it right before or during. This may not always work out, but it’s so exciting if you can make it happen!

Some cultures or areas of the world you teach about may be HUGE and have a variety of styles and mediums. Don’t let that intimidate you…break it down however it makes sense for you. You don’t have to conquer the world (ha..see what I did there?) in a quarter, semester or school year. Pick what you think will interest you and your students.

Added bonus…if talking about different areas around the world is of interest to you, you could make fun passports for your students to show where they’ve “been”.

Lastly, all students will appreciate cultures. If you’re struggling with your older students, they seem to have a much deeper understanding and appreciation for it, so give it a shot and see how it goes!

Let us know what cultures you enjoy teaching about! Who knows, we might want to add them into our curriculum too!

Keep Blending,

Laura and Hayley