Resources to Support Educators During Election Season

Election season can be a challenging time to navigate, both in and out of the classroom. As educators in both the classroom and the community, we are committed to harnessing the transformative power of empathy. We prioritize the establishment of shared community agreements and focus on student-centered learning while promoting civil discourse. Together, these principles enhance understanding and broaden knowledge.

The resources provided below have been thoughtfully curated to serve as a starting point for culturally responsive lessons, deeply rooted in our practice as art educators.

Building Empathy

“How One School Is Teaching Empathy After the Election,” Greater Good Magazine
The story of a group of 6th graders learning to bridge political divides after the U.S. election.

Shared Community Agreements

“Community Agreements: Implementing, Monitoring & Repairing,” National Equity Project
Once developed, community agreements must become a living, breathing entity, not just words on a page. Adding your agreements to every meeting agenda can help to keep them visible; however, the vitality of your agreements depends upon the collective commitment and attention of your team. This document offers a set of principles and processes for maintaining the group’s attention on these powerful commitments.

“Civil Discourse: Creating Norms and Exploring Decision‐​Making,” SPHERE
This lesson utilizes visual literacy tools to delve into the concept of community, establish class values and norms, and highlight the importance of mutual respect and effective communication.

Civil Discourse to Promote Understanding & Expand Knowledge

Arts as Civic Commons, Harvard Project Zero
A collaboration with Independent Schools Victoria, the Arts as Civic Commons project offers strategies and resources to help learners explore civic life through looking at and making art.

“Teaching the Election in Politically Charged Times,” Edcast, Harvard Graduate School of Education
Lecturer Eric Soto-Shed advises against avoiding classroom discussions on the upcoming U.S. election—and, instead, offers strategies on making these conversations worthwhile.

“The Election and the Educator,” Edutopia
During a contentious election season, a teacher’s best strategy may be encouraging healthy, informed debate among students while withholding their own views.

Contemporary Artist Connections

“Taking a Stand,” Art21
Protesting policy, war, or social norms, the artists in this playlist challenge the status quo and give voice to a movement. From documentary photography illustrating the contradictions of American life to the theatrical retelling of world history, these artists create works that provide urgent points of reflection.

“Take Action,” Art21
Urgently and directly engaging with the social and political landscape, the artists in this playlist bring their practice to the public to advocate on behalf of a more fair, diverse, and inclusive world.

“VOTE: Celebrating Lady Pink on Election Day,” New York Historical
The League of Women Voters commissioned Lady Pink to do a live painting session during the 2014 event. The result was an exuberant, 8 foot by 12 foot canvas executed in the classic New York graffiti style that says “Vote” in richly illustrated letters. In the intervening years, the work became a key piece of imagery for the League of Women Voters and is now a treasured part of the New York Historical collection. Experience it up-close on our fourth floor.

“Nari Ward’s We the People,” New York Historical
Nari Ward’s We The People “The meaning of the first three words of the U.S. Constitution—‘We the people…’—has changed over the course of our nation’s history, and who constitutes ‘the people’ is a topic of fierce debate even today. Constructed entirely from shoelaces donated by members of the public, a monumental artwork by artist Nari Ward honors these three words.” (also see https://smarthistory.org/seeing-america-2/nari-ward-people/)

Student-Centered Learning

Artful Thinking, Harvard Project Zero
Artful Thinking helps teachers use works of visual art and music in ways that strengthen student thinking and learning in the arts and beyond. The goals of this program are to help teachers create connections between works of art and the curriculum, and to help teachers use art as a force for developing students’ thinking dispositions.

“Awakening Student Ownership: Transitioning to a Student-Centered Environment,” Art Education
Middle school art educator Jacqueline S. McElhany shares her transition from a discipline-based classroom learning environment to one centered around big ideas and choice-based learning.