Museum educators Sarah Alvarez (left) and Melissa Covington Tanner, participants in the Terra Foundation’s American Art at the Core of Learning initiative, discuss an artwork at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago.

American Art at the Core of Learning Website

Bringing together the experience and resources of Chicago-area museum and classroom educators, American Art at the Core of Learning (AACL) demonstrates dynamic ways to teach with American art that connect with new English Language Arts standards. The tools and materials on this website empower teachers to use artworks as texts that can motivate students to do the kind of close reading, analysis, evidence-based and reflective writing, and critical thinking that the standards call for. The website grew out of a learning community of museum educators from 12 Chicago-area institutions that was active between 2012 and 2014. The project was initiated and funded by the Terra Foundation.

Visit the website.