Try This! Using Remote Methods to Reach More Students, and Collaborate!

Teaching remotely and on CANVAS has been a new challenge for many of us this year, and we have had to find ways of doing things online that traditionally were done in the classroom.  This is no exception for me as I am teaching art and music.

Close collaboration with classroom teachers has been a must to ensure that the lessons presented are strictly adhering to the core that is being taught.  This is done mostly electronically, with some in person meetings….with proper social distancing, of course!

Lessons are taught weekly to students remotely by streaming into classrooms, usually using a team meeting platform.  They are also uploaded to CANVAS.  That way, regular classroom teachers who don’t participate in the stream can present the prepared lessons at their convenience. 

Lessons have included:

Haydn’s “Surprise Symphony”: First-grade students listened to the music, participated in a listening map, led the music as the conductor, and then used palm pipes to play a version of the music.  They then will create their own music map for “Surprise Symphony”.

Grofe’s “On the Trail”: Third-grade students made their own listening aids to show the elements of a personal narrative.  They then put those listening aids in order as they listened to the music to show sequencing in a personal narrative.

Georgia O’Keeffe Utah wildflowers: Fourth-grade students learned about Georgia O’Keeffe, then they chose a Utah wildflower and did a Georgia O’Keeffe style watercolor painting of that wildflower.

Second Grade Masks:  Students in the second grade are working on making a mask to show how animals can adapt to their environment.  They started by drawing a picture of their chosen animal.   Next, they created a fun, simple mask to learn how to create in 3D.  Students are now in the process of making a  mask of the animal they drew.

All of these lessons have been placed on CANVAS, so classroom teachers at both schools can present the lesson when they are ready.  Other times, the lessons are streamed live into the classrooms.  Scheduling arts classes have been easier because the entire grade joins the class at the same time.  So, walking down the hallway, you might hear the entire third grade playing their personal music kits and responding to rhythm patterns on the board.  What a joyful noise!

This has been a challenge, like so many things this year, but everyone involved is working hard to make it a success.  Good things have come of it.  I have been able to learn so much about filming lessons and technology.  My son, who is an online streamer, steered me toward software that online streamers use (OBS free software).  I use this to seamlessly record lessons to upload on CANVAS, and I also use this when I am remotely teaching a class.  I even set up my own little studio in my classroom, including two cameras, two monitors, a backdrop, and even a selfie light (good lighting equals good videos).

Classroom teachers are taking an active role in the arts lessons, even creating their own art along with the students.  They are learning themselves how to create and teach different art forms.  And, who wouldn’t feel like a rock star when students in the hallway greet me with “Hey, Mrs. Thomas, I saw you on the screen!”

Chalynn Thomas teaches at Ashley and Davis Elementaries, in Vernal.  She has taught mostly music for 17 years, with the last 10 years as a Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program music teacher.  She plays a number of instruments, including clarinet, piano, french horn, guitar, and of course recorder!  This year, she has been teaching art at her main school, and she teaches art and music at her “coached” school.  Her favorite art medium is clay, but she likes creating with whatever she can find.