39th Annual BPS MLK Celebration

 In our first BPS Arts blog post, we are featuring our 39th Annual  MLK Celebration. Across the district, thousands of students were involved in honoring MLK with his words, “ Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” With love and light guiding practitioners, students designed our first-ever virtual MLK Celebration. Framing it as Q&A, practitioners shed some “light” on how they created these displays of “ love.”

Julie White, Trotter School Theatre Teacher

Why did you and/or students choose what you submitted? We brainstormed a theme and so many students thought the same thing, “How can we show Kindness during a time in the world that lacks it.”  We decided to take an excerpt from a play we will present in late March called "Make A Difference". It fit perfectly.

 

 

Describe the learning process of the work you submitted? As a student body each week students watch, write and reflect on young people like them making a difference in their communities and write reflectively about it.  We then practice our lines for our Public Service Announcements during our second 50-minute block.  The student then had to independently record their parts at home and I along with our Art/music teacher Mr. Belo, mastered it into a final video.

 

Mrs. Loya [Mildred Avenue K-8 School, Visual Art Teacher

 

Describe the learning process of the work you submitted? My students read and discussed various MLK quotes and shared what they already knew about MLK. We added to their learning through a variety of activities that engaged them with the life and work of MLK. Then they discussed how they could represent his vision and message within a symbolic work of art. Students had options for how they produced their art, from using various web apps to traditional paper and pencil. 

 

Were there challenges? What solutions were brought forth to meet these challenges? The primary challenge was pushing students to think symbolically and less literally. During this unit we discussed the symbolism in Kehinde Wiley's portrait of Barack Obama and sculpture, Rumors of War. These discussions helped students see how symbolism does not have to be literal.

 

 

 

 

Cheryl Murphy, PJ Kennedy, Theatre Teacher

 

Describe the learning process of the work you submitted? The scenes were created last school year with the idea that we would perform in the spring.  I used a lot of the techniques I learned in the BLO playwriting workshop I took to help my students generate ideas and create.  When we decided to present it at the MLK celebration I asked for students who were interested in working after school, virtually to rehearse and these 7 students jumped at the chance.  

 

 

  Ivonne Otero-Donnovan Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. K-8 School, Visual Art Teacher

 

“The King school was named after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The students feel a strong connection to the man behind the words "Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that". Students were asked to analyze, interpret and Illustrate the quote. To celebrate Dr. King's legacy, they viewed biographical videos, songs, images and a couple of photos of Dr. King at the actual King school. They had been working on figurative language in ELA, this was a perfect segway to demonstrate and display their understanding of the quote visually. 

We discussed the importance and the meaning of the quote. Students took turns sharing their perspectives about what the quote meant, the impact that Dr King had on them through his peaceful, yet effective actions, and then, proceeded to create their illustrations.

     

The challenges present were decision making. Which drawing would best represent their interpretation of the quote and its meaning? What materials should they use based on what is available to them? Which symbols would best represent their thinking? Should they create a simple or elaborate design? They were given artistic license to make the choices, knowing that they would be supported throughout the process. We held breakout room sessions for individualized instruction, and assistance.   

     

There were many surprises. I didn't realize how much of an impact this lesson would have, how much empathy and strength of character my students displayed through the learning and making process. I discovered a new level of depth and understanding from my students that was energising and invigorating. The more they learned about Dr King, the more prepared, engaged and excited they were to demonstrate their comprehension through their artwork, and during their class presentation.

Overall, this was a valuable experience!”

 

Click here to experience the "Light and Love"