The problem

Our County Extension Council asked that, as a county, we offer programs targeted to young children. Studies have shown that intertwining literature with visual and expressive arts helps children improve their reading comprehension and critical thinking skills.

The educational program response

The Pike County Extension Community Arts program partnered with a local elementary school to introduce Art and Literature Connection, a program aimed at increasing reading comprehension, excitement about learning, and critical thinking in young children. We wanted to get kids excited about reading and learning while using art is a vehicle to amplify the learning process. In the program, we work with teachers to select a story to read to the children (or have the students read) in class, then design an art activity that reinforces the theme or lesson contained in the story. For example, in our first class we read The Dot by Peter Reynolds. Afterward, students were allowed to paint their own masterpieces, whether a simple dot or something more complex. While painting, we discussed the book and how the characters might feel and why. We also talked about how we might react in similar situations.

The participants/target audience

The target audience for this program was early elementary school children, ages 5-7, in their classrooms at a local elementary school.

Other partners (if applicable)

We used the county library to select age appropriate books.

Program impact or participant response.

After six months, teachers reported that 100% of students were excited about program days and more interested in reading time when they knew there would be an art component accompanying it. They also reported that 100% of students were more easily able to recall events of the story and talk about those events with deeper understanding. With the initial success of the pilot program, we hope to offer programming to other schools within the county.