Third graders at Tryon Elementary School recently wrapped up an English language arts unit on the ocean with hands-on experiences connecting literature, art and science.
Early in the unit, students studied Hokusai’s famous Japanese woodblock print “The Great Wave.” They then tried printmaking themselves, tracing original designs onto foam sheets and using them to create their own prints.
The activity gave students a chance to explore how an artist represented the ocean while creating their own interpretations.
Students finished the unit with another close look at ocean life, this time through a squid dissection demonstration.
The experience allowed them to see features of a squid firsthand and connect the demonstration with what they had learned about marine life during the unit.
