E-mail contact
Yvonne Troxell
ytroxel@boston.k12.ma.us
Robert Lamothe
rlamothe@boston.k12.ma.us
Joan Syms
jsyms@boston.k12.ma.us

Teacher Bio
Yvonne Troxell teaches Art at South Boston Odyssey, Excel, and Monument High Schools. She has also taught elementary Art for a number of years. A strong advocate for experiential learning and student directed curriculum, she finds service learning to be valuable for both students and teachers. Yvonne is a Lead Teacher for the Boston Public Schools and a National Board Certified Teacher in Adolescent through Young Adult Visual Art.

Currently a Technology Teacher at Young Achievers, a BPS Pilot School, Robert Lamothe taught Instructional Technology at South Boston's Excel High where he and his students enthusiastically contributed to this project.

Joan Syms, Art Teacher at Boston Community Leadership Academy (BCLA), a School to Career School, has been a Boston Public School teacher for 20 years. She has taught Reading, Special Education classes and Art at all levels. Graduating from Museum School of Fine Arts, Boston and Tufts University and with a MEd from UMass Boston, Yvonne incorporates technology, photography, and computer visualizations into her multi-cultural arts curricula.

Subject Areas
Visual Arts, Web Design and Advanced Multi-Media Presentations, English Language Arts, Social Studies

Grade Levels
9 - 12

Students
Inclusive

 
 

Artists Act Against Homelessness

Authenticity

Key Question How can art students understand the causes of homelessness and help homeless families?

Overview Homelessness in the big city. Do young people see it as a curse or a cause to be addressed? Three high school classes, in the fields of visual arts and instructional technology, vow to do something. Collaborating on ways to understand homelessness, they research and discuss issues. The young artists identify university and community partnerships that provide opportunities to use their art and media skills. Making murals for a homeless children's party, organizing a conference on homelessness, and working at an after school program for homeless children allow them to explore causes and solutions. Determined that their messages will be seen and heard, students produce and exhibit a web site, videos, and graphic arts confirming that artists can successfully act against homelessness.

Active Exploration + Applied Learning + Adult Connections
Classroom Activities
Community Activities
Career Activities
• Agree to collaborate with 3 classes on homelessness.
• Read articles & view teacher produced slide show on homelessness.
• Discuss service options.
• Work with children at after-school program for homeless children.
•
Work with Mass College of Art students to create murals & jewelry for a Christmas in the City party.
•
Plan homelessness conference at UMass Boston.
•
Produce web site, art, creative writing & video to document project.
•
Make quilt for homeless shelter.
•
Prepare display boards for school art exhibit.
• Arrange dates & visits to homeless shelter.
• Work with children on original play & books about life in a shelter.
• Install murals at party for homeless children & photograph participants.
• Spend day at UMass Boston homeless conference.
• Screen student produced video at Mass College of Art.
• Donate quilt to homeless shelter.
• Exhibit boards, art & creative writing at exhibit.
• Show video & explain activities to students, staff, parents & administrators during exhibit.
• Reflect & plan to continue making art as a conveyor of messages about homelessness.
• Interview media teacher about experience as Web Developer.
• Discuss requirements leading to National Board Certification with Visual Arts teacher.
• View videos of artists as social activists.
• View how successful documentary filmmaking can influence public opinion.
• Investigate opportunities in multi media field.
• Understand how social programs help homeless families.
• Research how Youth Opportunity Grants can prepare young people for lifelong learning & employment.


Academic Rigor
Learning Standards English Language Arts
• Use agreed-upon rules for informal and formal discussions in small and large groups.
• Actively