By Darla Magaña, Director of the Library and Media Center

Mr. Michael Allison’s eighth-grade History students are delving into history through art, as part of a program called Picturing America, sponsored by the National Endowment of the Humanities, which provides artwork for classrooms and libraries throughout the nation. Using a poster of the famous painting “Washington Crossing the Delaware,” by Emanuel Leutze (1816–1868), to spur discovery, students were asked to reflect on Leutze’s portrayal of this historical moment in time.

Laura Borruso, grade 8, noticed that, in the painting, “the sky is dark but there is some sun. The darkness might represent the sadness of not being with the family on Christmas. On the other hand, the sunshine shows that there are possibilities of them being victorious. But the fact that all those men were willing to sacrifice their life for their country on Christmas shows who they truly are. Without those men where would America be at this point in time?”

The Leutze poster is one piece in a collection of 40 posters gifted to the St. Margaret’s Library by the National Endowment for the Humanities through their Picturing America program, and this activity is just one of the exciting ways the artwork is being incorporated into classroom instruction at St. Margaret’s.

The Picturing America collection brings a wide variety of American masterpieces into the classrooms. Throughout this school year, the artwork has been used to enhance understanding of literature in English classes, prompt discussion in History classes, and even inspire choreography in dance classes. When I applied for and received the Picturing America artwork, I thought the art would be used mostly to decorate the Library. I have been impressed with the way our teachers have incorporated the artwork into their classrooms to ensure that students receive an even deeper understanding of the course curriculum. When artwork is not circulated out to the classrooms, it is available for all to view in the Library.

Mr. Allison’s students were so inspired by their discussion regarding the artist’s perspective on the Delaware crossing that they wrote diary entries that captured what they believed would be Washington’s thoughts and feelings during this significant moment in his life. Then they took the lesson a step further by recreating the painting by posing in costume in the St. Margaret’s Preschool boat!

The re-creation photograph, the diary entries, and the Picturing America poster that inspired them is currently on display in the library. “I love how this experience helped students to understand the traits that made our nation great,” Mr. Allison says.

Stop by the Library today to view the posters and the display featuring this exciting classroom project.

Tags: Academics, Library, Middle School