Researching Bay Area Arts Organizations

Common Core Standards

W.K.7: Participate in shared research and writing projects (e.g., explore a number of books by a favorite author and express opinions about them).

W.4.7: Conduct short research projects that build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.

W.4.9.a, b: Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

W.5.7: Conduct short research projects that use several sources to build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.

W.5.8: Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; summarize or paraphrase information in notes and finished work, and provide a list of sources.

W.5.9: Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research

RI.5.9: Integrate information from several texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably.

LIB.6.4.3: Appreciate and respond to creative expressions of information.

Materials

Internet Access

Artworks: Bernice Bing (dowloadable PowerPoint from sidebar above)

Projector

Procedure

1. Decide if students are to work individually or in groups. Arrange for web access in the classroom, or determine if assignment can be taken home.
2. Introduce students to Bernice Bing, a Bay Area arts advocate.
   • Define “advocate” for your class.
   • Optional: Show Artworks: Bernice Bing (PPT) to familiarize students with Bing’s art contributions and contextualize the assignment.
   • Introduce Bing’s biography and the above quote, highlighting Bing’s involvement with community arts organizations.
3. Introduce the assignment: Students will research a Bay Area arts organization and either respond to a writing prompt or create a presentation.
4. Assign students an art organization to research from the following:
   • SCRAP
   • SomArts or South of Market Cultural Center
   • Neighborhood Arts Program
   • Asian American Women’s Artist Association
   • Women’s Caucus for the Arts
5. Provide time for students to research their assigned organization.
   • Ask students to begin their search with the organization website, and then further explore through an internet search.
6. Have students answer the following questions in a writing prompt or presentation.
   • What does your arts organization do/did?
   • When was it established? Who contributed to founding the organization?
   • What communities does your organization serve?
   • Why is your organization important to society?
7. Conclude with a discussion or brainstorm of alternate arts organizations, or ways the arts can help people, and the community.