During the writing process, focus was placed on the professional development of teachers and the participation of teaching artists. Teaching artists developed programs which support and extend many of the lesson plans. Throughout the development of the Arts Excel curriculum, field testing insured that all lesson plans included age appropriate, teacher friendly materials and content. Following is a lesson from the Community Unit of the curriculum. Chris Williams, principal percussionist with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, works with a third grade student at Lansdowne Elementary School.
Students brainstorm a list of jobs in their community and the duties of each job.
Working in pairs, each student selects a job they would like to have when they grow up. Students write a sentence with their partner telling about one of their job duties. My name is Margie and my job is to write. Students write a second rhyming sentence that gives and example of why they are needed in the community. Students perform for the class.