Spring 2023 Princeton Pilot Program
In spring 2023, the Olivia & Leslie Foundation initiated the Princeton Pilot Program at Johnson Park School. This program involved three educators delivering 30-minute interdisciplinary art + math lessons to kindergarten and first-grade students across six classrooms.
The innovative pedagogical approach of integrating math into art instruction served to foster critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and self-confidence.
Throughout the creative process, students were encouraged to ask questions and explore their own solutions, rather than relying on answers from the teachers. This approach introduces and nurtures the development of creative problem-solving skills that extend beyond the classroom, leading to increased resilience and self-confidence.
A noteworthy outcome, was students who encountered challenges in traditional classroom settings excelled in their art projects. A student who required assistance for classwork in other subjects produced an intricate animal sculpture and drew it in 3D. This anecdotal example suggests our curriculum is tapping into the innate creative and conceptual gifts of young students that are not always accessed through traditional classroom pedagogy.