logo

Bringing a multicultural spirit to children's literature

  • What We Do
    • EJK Award
      • About the EJK Award
      • All Winners & Honors
      • Mock EJK Award
      • EJK Award Book Discussion Guides
      • FAQ
    • EJK Bookmaking Competition
      • About the EJK Bookmaking Competition
      • 2025 Winners
      • EJK Bookmaking Tutorials
      • Past Winners
      • FAQ
    • Documentary: Tell Me Another Story
    • EJK Prizes in Partner Organizations
    • FAQ
  • About Ezra
    • Ezra’s Bio
    • Ezra’s Bio for Kids
    • Awards & Honors
    • Ezra’s Books
    • Keats’ Select Bibliography
    • FAQ
  • For Educators
    • Ezra’s Books
    • Keats Author Study Kit
    • Keats Books Social Emotional Learning
    • Keats Select Bibliography
    • Themed Book Discussion Guides
    • Read Aloud Tips
    • EJK Bookmaking Competition
    • Mock EJK Award Toolkits
  • For Kids
    • Games
    • Animated Read-alouds
    • Ezra’s Bio for Kids
  • About Us
    • Our Staff
    • Our History
    • Press Releases
    • FAQ
  • Shop
X Close
You are here: Home / Programs / Art or Science? Using Careful Observations to Discover & Create

Feb 02 2020

Art or Science? Using Careful Observations to Discover & Create

Aidé Villalobos, Teacher
Evergreen Elementary School
Shelton, WA

Aidé Villalobos wanted to introduce her 2nd grade students, many of whom are learning English as a second language, to the beauty of scientific illustration combined with art and writing activities. She decided to apply for an EJK Mini-Grant to make it happen!

Students learned about Carol Linnaeus, through reading, field trips to observe plant life, science lessons and participation in art lessons co-taught by a retired art/science professor. Two scientists from the US Forest Service taught the children that careful observations, documented through words, pictures and drawings, were key to scientific learning. In the art lessons, students learned about blind contour, texture, layering, blending colors with colored pencils and finally, watercolors.

After the art and science lessons, children illustrated postcards with the Washington State Flower, the Rhododendron. The final activity was writing a letter to a family member. Students, including those who had struggled with writing all year, were extremely motivated to write to someone they care about. Postcards, affixed with The Snowy Day postage stamps, were sent to places including Mexico, Guatemala and to a parent stationed overseas in the military.

Through this project, Ms. Villalobos learned more about her students and their families. “ I was surprised to learn about my students’ art talents that I would never have known had I not done this project in my class. Some of them are the same students that struggle in reading and math.”

Copyright ©2025 · Ezra Jack Keats Foundation
Share
Follow
Ezra Jack Keats Foundation
450 14th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11215-5702

Contact Us