WHAT ARE PLACE-BASED ARTS?

Music, art, and media education should and often do play a central role in place-based education. The songs, dances, visual representation, and presentations of a school's bioregion serve as the nourishment and voice of an educational community. Place-based arts can only thrive with eyes wide open to one's community and surroundings and need to be a collaborative venture between "Specials" educators, classroom teachers, and administrators.
Place based arts happen in so many places, but may not even be labeled as such. ​ Be sure to check out the tabs below to see examples of the work being done here in the Monadnock Region!
  • Music
  • Writing
  • Visual Arts
  • Cross-Curricular
  • Gardening/ Food
<
>
Symonds Elementary School music teacher, Peter Siegel, has created an blog about his work integrating music, art, and place-based education.

​Check it out here: https://musicsaveseducation.com/
Orion Magazine
A quarterly non-profit literary magazine based in western Massachusetts.​​ In print since 1982, the magazine focuses on nature, culture, and place while addressing social and environmental issues.
Whole Terrain
A yearly print journal published by the Environmental Studies at Antioch University New England. Its focus is on reflective environmental practice.
The Glen Brook Writers Retreat
Beginning as a retreat for writers of Orion Magazine in 1986, this yearly retreat continues today, bringing together Monadnock's writing community.
River of Words
Developed by the Connecticut River Conservancy, River of Words is a poetry focused teacher's guide to help students connect the written language with nature.
Check back here soon for more examples!
The QUEST program at Symond's School does everything from produce pageants about the local Yellow Spotted salamander with over-life sized Bread and Puppet like puppets to build place-based art installations with the entire school community of 400+. 

Read more about the amazing cross-curricular work being done at Symond's School in Keene here.
There is cross-curricular place-based arts work being done in places around the country and with many different age groups.

Here is the article that pairs with this video.
Food is a wonderful way to connect us to place! Food varies by region and holds many of our memories. Check out Flavour School to learn more about embedding sensory food lessons into your curriculum.

Kids Gardening offer inspiration and support to educators looking to incorporate gardening into their curriculum.