By Cat Hiller, Lower School art, and Patty Hans, Lower School French
What happens when a French classroom and an art room come together? A whole lot of creativity, collaboration, and student ownership!
This fall, Cat Hiller, Lower School art teacher, and Patty Hans, Lower School French teacher, joined forces to create a collaborative French play. They invited 4th grade artists to be part of the creative process, giving students the opportunity to bring the production to life through set design and props. Together, students designed, engineered, and painted to transform their ideas into the finished set.
The students didn’t simply make decorations. They became designers, engineers, painters, problem-solvers, and collaborators. They imagined, sketched, built, experimented, and revised to create the backdrop their peers would eventually perform in.
What made the experience especially meaningful was that these students could see their ideas move from the art room to the stage. Their work had a real purpose and an authentic audience. They weren’t just completing an art project; they were contributing something meaningful to their school community.
The collaboration between French and art created an opportunity for students to see how their skills can intersect across disciplines. Most importantly, it gave them a sense of ownership and investment in something bigger than themselves.
It was a beautiful reminder that when we give children authentic opportunities to create, collaborate, and contribute, learning becomes something they can see, touch, share, and be proud of.