Art and Community Activism

SEL Domain(s): Empathy

Relational Risk: Low

Grades: K-5

*Lesson may need to be modified to meet the specific needs of students

Description:

Students explore the concepts of community, activism, and art through discussion and creative collaboration, discovering how art can be a tool for change.

Materials

• Poster board (3 total)

• Markers or crayons

• Books for read-aloud (optional):

  • A is for Activist by Innosanto Nagara

  • Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin

  • That’s Not Fair!/¡No Es Justo! by Carmen Tafolla

  • Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles

• Graphic Organizer (Concept Map):

• Lesson script
  

  Steps

1. Group Brainstorm:

   • Divide students into three small groups.

   • Each group gets a poster with one of the words: community, activism, or art.

   • Students brainstorm and write (or draw) words and images related to their term.

2. Whole Class Share & Define:

   • Each group presents their poster.

   • Facilitate a class discussion to co-construct definitions:

     • Community: People who live or work together.

     • Activism: Working for change or for something you believe in.

     • Art: A creative way to express people, feelings, stories, and ideas.

3. Partner Illustration:

   • Pair students from different groups to combine ideas (e.g., “art” + “activism”).

   • Pairs create a sketch showing how their two terms connect.

   • Encourage creative risk-taking and personal examples.

   • Pairs present and discuss their drawings with the class.

     Extension Activity

   Invite students to observe and reflect on art in their communities and consider how it relates to activism and change. Ask them to return with examples for class discussion.