Willow Springs fifth-grader Graham Willis proudly explained how he made a leaf print to his mother, Heather, during the school’s annual art show, “We Grow Together.” 

“I love how kids are exposed to more art techniques and mediums,” she said. “Every year the art teacher provides so many different opportunities.”

Beverley Taylor Sorenson Art Specialist Mindy Van de Graaff regularly teaches alongside classroom teachers and develops ideas for when she has dedicated art time to reinforce the curriculum by integrating art with academic subjects.

“We see benefits in students’ retention, and they have a hands-on way of learning a topic,” she said. “We’re the only school in Canyons (School) District that does side-by-side teaching; sometimes I’m teaching for art standards and other times, for a curriculum emphasis, but the kids love coming to art and having an opportunity to spotlight their projects in the art show. They do art every week and are proud of their work, so this is a snapshot of our whole year and families are getting to see all the things they’ve learned and done.”

Van de Graaff has seen a shift in student engagement during her 11 years at the school. She meets with classes for 45 minutes about 30 times a year, creating cross-curricular art projects.

“When I started, some kids were totally disengaged. They put up hoodies over their heads, but then I'd say, ‘We’re going to learn about science today, but we're going to do it with art.’ Suddenly, I'm watching the hoodies come off and they're perking up. I was like, ‘There is power in this,’” she said. “Using art to do hands-on projects helps then become engaged and to understand what's happening in other subject matters.”

At the art show, not only did families admire students’ work, but they could also paint a thank-you card, light up a circuit robot, color a collaborative mural and take photos with Willie the Wildcat. Students also hunted for a spin art flower with eyes, a Pink Panda donut, and a textile seahorse as part of the “I Spy” contest.

Jennie Stratton came to see her two children’s artwork.

“I love the program and all the aspects they’re learning,” she said. “Ms. Van de Graaff has fostered their love of art. They’re so proud of what they’ve created.” λ