Some Lemoore educators are trying a new approach to covering curriculum: through art. Meadow Lane Elementary School is one of several schools across the nation that was chosen to pilot a new program this year through the National Endowment For The Humanities. "Picturing America" is a program that includes 20 large double-sided, laminated reproductions of American art that showcase our country's history.

The accompanying guide provides teachers with backgrounds on each of the 40 paintings, monuments, statues and photographs, and gives them ideas to tie each into the classroom. Though "Picturing America" can be used for history lessons, teachers -- including those at Meadow Lane -- are also incorporating the program into English, art and geometry.

Bruce Cole, chairman of the National Endowment For The Humanities, said "Picturing America" brings students "face to face with the people, places and events that have shaped our country."

For 10-year-old Faith Guerzon, being able to see a visual image made learning about history much easier.

"You can learn a lot from history," Guerzon said. "And with a picture, you can look at it and tell what's going on. Reading sometimes is more complicated because of the vocabulary or hard words."

Guerzon's favorite work that she had studied so far from "Picturing America" was "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere," which was a 24 by 36 inch reproduction of Grant Wood's 1931 oil on masonite.

In Guerzon's class, led by teacher Patricia Dondero, students were working on Tuesday with their "elbow partners" -- students sitting next to them -- to answer comprehension questions in a variety of difficulty levels.

A few classrooms away, fourth grade teacher Michele Stewart had her students guess the story of the woman in a 1936 photograph taken by Dorothea Lange.

Many students, using a thesaurus to aide them in finding more expressive language, described the migrant woman in the photograph as "gloomy," "blue" and "melancholy." Some students guessed that the 32-year-old woman in the photograph was as old as 60 or 90.

Sharron Rosedahl, the school librarian who applied for Meadow Lane to receive "Picturing America," said the reproductions provide a hands-on learning experience without the cost of a field trip to a museum.

"They can see it right there in front of them," Rosedahl said.

The National Endowment For The Humanities is now accepting applications from other schools across the country to receive "Picturing America" at their institution.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2424.

(April 2, 2008)