Scribble Art Experiments at San Leandro High School

In February of 2021, I collaborated with teacher Teryn Kravitz to conduct an arts integration workshop with two of her 9th grade biology classes. Her students were researching information about the vaccine for COVID-19.

I observed two of Ms. Kravitz’s (online) classes. Of course, that means I took sketchnotes. Drawing helps me to focus and observe. I noticed that Ms. Kravitz was very good at guiding her students through critical thinking and inquiry routines. She also made sure to include time to check in with how the students are feeling.

Love Language

marker on paper, 8.5” x 11”, 2021

Ms. Kravitz began class by having students talk about what makes them feel loved before beginning a unit of study about the global pandemic related to population over time.

That Beautiful Thinking Chaosmarker on paper, 8.5” x 11”, 2021I observed Teryn Kravitz’s 9th grade biology classes as students created a list of questions about COVID and the vaccine and organized those questions into categories on Jamboard.

That Beautiful Thinking Chaos

marker on paper, 8.5” x 11”, 2021

I observed Teryn Kravitz’s 9th grade biology classes as students created a list of questions about COVID and the vaccine and organized those questions into categories on Jamboard.

We met several times to plan an arts integration workshop along with two other San Leandro teachers, Gaia Pine, a colleague from the Integrated Learning Specialist Program, and Sally Barry. This was all coordinated by Christell Lewis of Young Audiences of Northern California.

For the workshop with students, we started with a variation on the scribbling routine that I shared on YouTube. Ms. Kravitz’s classes had spent the previous two weeks evaluating news reports about the (not-yet-released) vaccines, so that was the topic of their art.

We started with an initial prompt to scribble in multiple colors on paper as a way of connecting with and expressing the artists’ feelings about COVID vaccines. Then, use those scribbles to make new art about those feelings.

Here is the rubric that students would use to grade their own work. We went over the rubric together noticing that successful art would “come from my heart,” then got into the art-making together on zoom.

After the workshop, the students had another two weeks (including spring break) to finish their art. From the examples below, you can see that the students responded with a wonderful diversity of styles and reactions.

Mixed Emotions

By Kimberly

Pen, pencil, eraser, colored pencils, 2021, sketch paper 8.27x11.69

My piece describes my current feelings of the covid vaccine. I also searched up frequently asked questions about the vaccine and added some of the questions I found on the internet to my drawing. The variety of colors shown represent different types of feelings everyone including myself might have. The scribble and many shapes of circles describe how my emotions and the ones of others as well are all over the place and not one single thought could display what I should expect from here on out. 

Heart Scribbles

Jade

pencils and colored pencils, 2021

My art shows how I’m feeling about covid-19/vaccines and quarantine/distance learning. The hearts are for good things that happened during this time that may wouldn’t have happened. Explaining things i’m thankful for that happend. But, the scribbles are to show my dislike about covid-19/vaccines and quarantine/distance learning. Brighter colors(yellow,pink,etc..) portray my happiness and dark colors(black,brown, blueish purpleish,etc..) portray my dislikings.

Lost in thought

By Tiffany

Markers, color pencils, lined paper, 2021, 10” x 8” 

My art represents the mixed emotions that I’ve been having about the vaccine. I do feel relieved that there is finally a vaccine but what if it’s not effective enough in preventing covid.

Overcrowding Thoughts

Andrea

Markers, Colored Pencils, Glue, Paper, Pen, 2021, 8.5’’ x11’’

This shows my feeling towards the vaccine and COVID-19. My brain sometimes feels “full”. By ‘’full’’ I mean it feels like these questions, concerns, and worries takes over my brain.


The next phase of our project would be a 2-part workshop with other teachers at the school. We reviewed the results of the workshop with Ms. Kravitz’s class together using Jamboard to exchange ideas. Then the teachers used the same process to create their own art about their experiences teaching during the pandemic.

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The Art of Everything Session 5