This week's website focus around interesting on-line projects that integrate the arts in learning. This is both because education through the arts is close to my heart, but more specifically to highlight this great sounding project that came across my screen from the On-Line Classroom -- DoodleOpolis:

"On March 2, a 9-week curriculum on architecture for kids begins on the Internet. Participating schools will receive by e-mail activities that get kids out into the spring air to "doodle" their school, their homes and their neighborhoods. Their drawings will be posted on the DoodleOpolis Website.

Architects and planners will be our on-line coaches to help the students draw and understand the basics of how our towns and cities are built. Classrooms will be coached through the process of building a model village in their school. Basic concepts covered include spatial relationships, measuring, drawing, perspectives, symmetry/asymmetry, decoration, focal points, etc.

It's going to be a fun, interactive learning experience. Please do drop by the Web site often to see what's going on. And if you want to join us, DoodleOpolis is open to any school, grades 3 - 8, anywhere in the world! (there is a basic registration fee to cover the costs).

For a weekly schedule or for information on how to register, send an e-mail to <tbt@onlineclass.com>."

Here in Philadelphia we have also have a program called Architecture in Education from the Foundation for Architecture. They have a terrific website -- An Interactive Learning Center for using Architecture in the Classroom. You can find resources of interest including documentation from past projects, a gallery with student work, and a list of related projects in other parts of the world.

ArtsEdge from the Kennedy Center is a national site that brings together educators and artists. They have lots of great stuff here....but I was particularly interested in the link under their Webspotlight to resources created on-line by students.

From these student-made sites I found this great link to "Ready to Live: Art and Life Beyond Street Violence" via the Public Broadcasting's POV series. They invite all to contribute via the 'Open Mic': "How has street violence affected your life? Tell us your story in prose, poetry, music or images. Submissions may be: reflections on personal experiences responses to the threat of violence in your community tributes to people who have died."

Another project that encourages collaboration is the World Community of Old Trees -- an An Eco-Art Project in Progress by June Julian . Visit the Tree Gallery where she includes her own work and interests and then encourages others to contribute theirs. Scroll drown for Eco-Art projects done by students all over the world. I found this via the Progressive Arts Links which has a ton of interesting resources.

Blue Web'n promotes Internet projects and is a terrific general resource that is sorted by content area. Take a look at the Art section for some really interesting projects, including:

Eyes on Arts promote many on and off-line projects around the arts. One, called Eyes of the Beholder promotes "a collaborative activity to promote a community of seers".

Another is called Windmills to Whirligigs which explores the connections between science, art and knowledge created by the Science Museum of Minnesota.

The World of Puppets (K-2 curriculum) takes students around the world to look at puppetry, then reflect on what they've found, write their own stories and create their own puppets and then perform their own show. They also have links where you can share your puppets and stories on-line.

Some other general art-oriented sites include:

Art in the Public Interest.

ArtsEdNet at the Getty Foundation has some really nice on-line resources, especially for discipline-based arts education. My favorite is their online exhibition and discussion. Currently you'll find "The Web of Life: The Art of John Biggers" with on-line discussion, curriculum resources, conversations with the artists, interactive galleries, etc.

Open Studio: Arts On-line Open Studio creates a laboratory for the exploration of the tools and techniques that will serve arts and cultural organizations as they prepare for the networked environment of the next century. Their site also has a huge list of art sites.

And, once again, a general link to a Kathy Schrock Art and Architecture resource! (I just love Kathy :-)

Enjoy! Christina