Art and science converged in Susan Sheets Odo’s second-grade classroom, where students recently depicted the lifestyle of a pumpkin through papier–mâché projects, miniature pumpkin patches, watercolor paintings, jewelry and PowerPoint presentations.
They presented their projects to fellow students and teachers at the Godfrey-Lee Early Childhood Center, explaining how their artwork showcased the journey of of a pumpkin from tiny seed to bright orange gourd.
Sheets Odo, an artist who has had two pieces in ArtPrize, the Grand Rapids-based annual art competition, said the project challenged her students to understand every step in the growth of a pumpkin and express it artistically. “They are putting their knowledge into art and sharing it with others,” she said.
“It’s fun because you can use different objects,” said second-grader Arlene-Chavez-Sosa. “Science and art are both my favorite things.”
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