Key Takeaways:

• Collaboration and art-making allow students to engage in deeper learning.
• Through education, awareness and action, students can use art to create change in their communities.
• Connecting students’ learning to their community is a rewarding and positive experience.

As an art educator, I most look forward to developing opportunities for deeper learning. After reflecting on how to help secondary and elementary students have meaningful connections to our community, my colleagues and I arrived at the Empty Bowls Project. The premise of Empty Bowls is profoundly simple, and the collaborative process offers opportunities to empower students. Plus, it’s a creative way to introduce social-emotional learning (SEL) in the art classroom.

1.  Learn from the Experts

To help students understand the complexities of homelessness, we invited local speakers who are instrumental in supporting homeless youth and advocating for affordable housing in our community. The presentations opened students’ eyes to the challenges faced by members of their own community.

2.  Build Empathy Through Teamwork

Next, the secondary students participated in a collaborative clay workshop with elementary students. The older students embraced their mentorship roles, teaching hand-building clay techniques to the younger students. The students quickly developed relationships with their partners, and, in doing so, naturally began demonstrating empathy for one another. Together, the students created more than 100 clay bowls for our charity fundraiser. 

3.  Gaining Community Support

Then, the secondary students helped organize a fundraiser exhibition. Alongside the clay bowls, the students displayed original artworks addressing local homelessness. They invited family, friends and community members to the event. The students requested a small admission fee from guests, and, in return, each guest took home an “empty bowl” as a reminder to support local programs that provide assistance for the homeless.

4.  Take Action in the Community

For the final step in this lesson, we scheduled a field trip to our local food bank. Students took a tour and volunteered by sorting food and serving clients. They learned about the food bank’s urgent necessity and the amazing support food-share programs can provide. During their visit, the students presented the charity with the money they earned at their reception—a $1,755 donation.

Skills for Life

The Empty Bowls Project was a creative way to give back to our community. It also introduced aspects of SEL. The program allowed students to develop new awareness, take social action and make a difference in their community. They felt the impact of what they learned.

“These opportunities showed me that art can be much more than just something beautiful to look at.”  —Olivia, grade 11

After the project was complete, students reflected and discussed their enjoyment and pride in our collaboration. The secondary students explained that working with younger students reminded them of the importance of helping others and the significance of art-making at any age. 

“The Empty Bowls Project inspired me because I felt my artwork and actions really had a purpose beyond the classroom.” —Jenna, grade 12

—Lisa Yamaoka is an Arts Educator at South Kamloops Secondary in Kamloops, British Columbia.

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