Friday, February 6, 2026 | By Ella Moore | 24 views
Fifth-grade students participated in an interdisciplinary project that connected Art and Literacy through the study of the Renaissance. In Literacy, students explored the Renaissance as a time of rebirth—when old ways of thinking were transformed into new ideas. They learned how the Renaissance began, how people lived during this time, and how art, learning, and leadership shaped society.
In Art, they focused on the key Renaissance values of Art, Knowledge, and Leadership. Each student chose the value that resonated most with them, developed meaningful symbols to represent it, and created a drawing that showed how this value connects to their own life.
To deepen their understanding, students studied Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel, learning about the years he spent painting the ceiling while lying on his back. To experience this challenge firsthand, they taped their drawings underneath tables or chairs and painted while lying beneath them. While they found the experience fun and engaging, it also gave them a new appreciation for Michelangelo’s dedication and endurance.
This project allowed students to combine historical understanding, personal reflection, and hands-on artmaking—bringing the idea of Renaissance “rebirth” to life in a meaningful and memorable way.
