Fifth Grade Cultural Arts

Central Cultural Arts Program

Fifth Grade

Welcome Fifth Grade Parents!

Join us in inspiring Central’s students through art—right in your child’s classroom! For years, this program has been made possible by parent volunteers like you. By bringing art history to life, you’ll spark creativity, curiosity, and a love of art in young minds, leaving a lasting impact on their understanding of artistic traditions from around the world.

Why Participate?

  • Impactful: Fun opportunity to engage with your student’s classroom in a meaningful way.
  • Minimal Time Commitment: Approximately 2 hours (1 hr for prep, 1 hr for classroom visit).
  • Supported: We provide everything you need: Presentation guides with artist background info and instructions. PowerPoint slides and speaker talking points. Project suggestions to inspire creativity. Access to our fully stocked supply closet or $20 reimbursement if you need to purchase your own materials!
  • No Experience Needed: You don’t need to be familiar with art history to participate! Sessions are designed to be easy for volunteers to lead. Presentations are short (usually five slides) and include a variety of fun, age-appropriate discussion prompts. The focus is on sparking curiosity and encouraging students to imagine the story behind the art.

How to sign up:

Your classroom’s room parent has created a sign-up sheet for you to volunteer for your preferred month. Once you’ve signed up, please reach out to your student’s teacher to schedule a day and time for your visit.

  • Burke -Contact Room Parent
  • Mazza – Contact Room Parent
  • McMahon – Sign up link!

Note: For the 2024-2025 school year, if you have already signed up to teach about an artist that is not included in the updated curriculum, you have the option to either stick with the original artist or switch to one from the new curriculum.

Learn more about the artists and artwork!

January: Portraits

Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting

Artemisia Gentileschi, 1639

Artemisia Gentileschi, (1592 – 1652), Italian Baroque Painter

Italian artist Gentileschi’s best-known work is both a bold declaration of her talent and a clever statement about her place in art. Despite the barriers of a male-dominated art world, she built a remarkable career, earning commissions from royalty, and surpassing her father, also a well-known painter, in historical significance as a Baroque artist.

“As long as I live I will have control over my being.” – Artemisia Gentileschi

February: Enchanted Landscapes

Artist’s Garden at Giverny

Claude Monet, 1900

Claude Monet (1840 – 1926), French Impressionist Painter

Monet’s name is virtually synonymous with Impressionism, as he was one of its most prolific artists, creating over 2,500 works during his lifetime. His home and garden in Giverny, France were central to his artistic vision serving as both his sanctuary and outdoor studio. Today, this celebrated garden, which inspired many of his most famous works, continues to welcome visitors from around the world, offering a glimpse into the beauty that shaped his legendary contributions to art history.

“I would like to paint the way a bird sings.” – Claud Monet

March: People in Action

Banjo Lesson

Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1893

Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859 – 1937), American Painter, Realism

Tanner’s most celebrated work captures a tender moment between an elderly man and a young boy, highlighting themes of family, tradition, and the passing of knowledge. As one of the most prominent Black artists of his time, Tanner broke barriers and challenged stereotypes with his dignified portrayals of Black life. This heartfelt masterpiece showcases his exceptional use of light and shadow to create depth and emotion, cementing his legacy as a Realist artist who used art to share universal stories.

“I decided on the spot that I would be an artist, and I assure you, it was no ordinary artist I had in mind.” – Henry Ossawa Tanner

April: Beyond the Canvas

BMW Art Car

Esther Mahlangu, 1991

Esther Mahlangu (1935 – ) South African Contemporary Artist

The BMW Art Car Project, launched in 1975, brings together automotive design and fine art, inviting renowned artists to transform cars into striking works of art. In 1991, South African artist Esther Mahlangu became the first woman to design an Art Car, adorning a BMW 525i with vibrant Ndebele patterns. She learned this intricate painting tradition from her mother, a skill passed down exclusively among the women of her tribe. Mahlangu’s work has since been featured in exhibitions and collections around the world, showcasing her unique ability to connect traditional art with contemporary design.

“I would continue to paint on the house when they left for a break. When they came back, they would say, ‘What have you done, child? Never do that again!’ After that, I started drawing on the back of the house, and slowly my drawings got better and better until they finally asked me to come back to the front of the house. Then I knew I was good at painting.” – Ester Mahlangu

October 2025: Colors and Shapes

The Frame

Frida Kahlo, 1938

Frida Kahlo (1907 – 1954), Mexican Painter, Realism, Symbolism

One of her 55 self-portraits, Frame is a vibrant celebration of Kahlo’s Mexican heritage and unapologetic individuality. With her piercing gaze and bold floral surround, it’s as if she’s saying, “I’m here, and I’m fabulous.” Beyond her numerous self-portraits, Kahlo is renowned for her vivid paintings that blend Symbolist and Realist styles, solidifying her legacy as one of the most iconic female artists of the 20th century.

“I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best.” – Frida Kahlo

  • Resources: Presentation slides and suggested projects (coming in 2025-2026 school year!)
  • Learn more about Frida Kahlo and The Frame

November 2025: Stories in Action

Nightlife

Archibald Motley Jr., 1943

Archibald Motley Jr. (1891 – 1981), American Painter,  Harlem Renaissance 

Motley’s vibrant tribute to Chicago’s jazz scene captures the joy and dynamism of Black culture during the Harlem Renaissance. Motley, a pioneer of modern American art, turned everyday moments into vivid masterpieces, and Chicago loved this one so much they wouldn’t let it go! Nightlife now proudly resides at the Art Institute of Chicago, where it continues to dazzle viewers with its timeless charm and rhythmic spirit.

“I’ve always wanted to paint my people just the way that they were.” – Archibald Motley Jr.

Instructions for Volunteers:

Thank you for sharing your time and enthusiasm with Central’s students! Your involvement in the Cultural Art Program plays a vital role in bringing art history to life and sparking creativity and curiosity. By guiding students through the world of art, you’re helping them build a lifelong appreciation and understanding of cultural heritage, while encouraging their critical thinking and observational skills.

  • Prior to volunteering, you must fill out the District Volunteer Form (must be done annually.)
  • To volunteer for a session, use the sign up link provided by the Room Parent for your student’s classroom.  At the beginning of the month you’ve volunteered for, please contact your student’s teacher to schedule a time to come to class.
  • It’s helpful to do a “dry-run” at home with your student beforehand to anticipate how the students will respond. Reference the talking points in the notes in each slide to get comfortable with what you’ll plan to say and the questions you’ll ask.
  • It’s highly recommended to do any material prep work and create a completed example prior to the session. This helps students envision the finished product and complete it within the allotted time.
  • You will have access to the school’s wifi and the ability to plug in to a projector. However, to avoid any potential technical difficulties, plan to email your presentation to your student’s teacher prior to the session and print out your talking points/notes.
  • Plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to your start time to allow time to sign in, collect supplies from the art supply closet (if necessary), and set up for your presentation.
  • Plan to spend 20-25 minutes for your presentation and discussion, and 30 minutes for the project, depending on complexity.
  • In the last few minutes of the session, take time to ask the students about what they learned (i.e. “Can you tell me the name of the artist we learned about today? What were they known for? How would you describe the (movement/style) of art?)

Central has a well stocked art supply closet, however, if you needed to purchase your own materials for a project you can be reimbursed up to $20 by submitting a reimbursement form. If you have questions about what supplies can be found in the closet, please contact the Cultural Arts Program Chair, Maryjane Bates.

Questions about the program? Please contact Maryjane Bates, Cultural Arts Program Chair.