Amelia Earhart Options for Knowledge School
1710 E. 93rd Street, Chicago, IL 60617
Dr. Brenda DeMar -Williams, Principal
Mr. Robert Cain, Assistant Principal
Dear Parents/Guardians,
I am pleased to announce that as a result of receiving the Ingenuity Creative Schools Fund
Grant, Amelia Earhart students will have the authentic experience of exploring arts education
through a thematic integration of theater and visual arts. This innovative program Creative
Voices Excel through STEAM will involve an arts partnership with the organization Changing
Worlds. Changing Worlds will provide quality theater arts instruction that fosters the
enhancement of creative and critical thinking, the collaboration of compiling original ideas with
others, and the formulation of dramatic presentations that communicate feelings, and
information about people and historic events. Along with utilizing Illinois Theater Learning
Standards, some of Changing Worlds; distinguishing factors of program delivery include:
*A Commitment to Chicago's Youth’s Learning: This is reflected in our teaching artists’
fluency and experience in research-based best practices in positive youth development,
arts integration, trauma-informed arts practices, and learner-centered approaches that
lead to measurable outcomes.
*Thematic Units Developed with Educators: Responding to Cultural Diversity and Social
Justice Issues, we deliver customized programs to respond to teacher and students’
needs for a relevant culturally responsive curriculum.
*Celebrating the Personal Narratives of Our Participants: Changing Worlds’ arts programs
amplify youth voices to celebrate the culture/community/heritage of our learners.
The proposed dynamic instruction from Changing World will be provided by teaching artist
Cynthia Johnson- Woodfolk. She will teach the fundamentals of theatrical presentation and
spoken word poetry. She is also a creative writing adjunct professor at Columbia College
Chicago, an actress, and has experience working with different Chicago Public Schools’ students
through Changing Worlds arts partnerships. Ms. Johnson-Woodfolk also has experience with
teaching remotely.
The program, Creative Voices Excel through STEAM, will begin March 16 and conclude
on May 25, 2021. Students in grades kindergarten thru 8th will participate. During classes,
students will investigate how to analyze literary works, and artistically apply their critiques and
interpretations through dramatizations and visual compositions. Students will study a variety of
literary artists, including writers from Chicago, as well as create their own literary compositions.
The curriculum will be based on the synthesis of Illinois Fine Arts Anchor Standards: Creating,
Performing/Presenting/Producing, Responding, and Connecting in addition to arts best
practices, with a STEAM focus that addresses the 21st century skills (creativity, critical thinking,
collaboration, and communication).
Students’ culminating projects will consist of a virtual theatrical production and an art
exhibition, showcasing their learning experiences. I am excited about this original arts
education opportunity Creative Voices Excel through STEAM for the scholars of Amelia Earhart
Options for Knowledge STEAM Elementary School.
Sincerely,
Ms. Grover-Webb
Art Teacher and Arts Liaison
Email: kjgrover-webb@cps.edu
1710 E. 93rd Street, Chicago, IL 60617
Dr. Brenda DeMar -Williams, Principal
Mr. Robert Cain, Assistant Principal
Dear Parents/Guardians,
I am pleased to announce that as a result of receiving the Ingenuity Creative Schools Fund
Grant, Amelia Earhart students will have the authentic experience of exploring arts education
through a thematic integration of theater and visual arts. This innovative program Creative
Voices Excel through STEAM will involve an arts partnership with the organization Changing
Worlds. Changing Worlds will provide quality theater arts instruction that fosters the
enhancement of creative and critical thinking, the collaboration of compiling original ideas with
others, and the formulation of dramatic presentations that communicate feelings, and
information about people and historic events. Along with utilizing Illinois Theater Learning
Standards, some of Changing Worlds; distinguishing factors of program delivery include:
*A Commitment to Chicago's Youth’s Learning: This is reflected in our teaching artists’
fluency and experience in research-based best practices in positive youth development,
arts integration, trauma-informed arts practices, and learner-centered approaches that
lead to measurable outcomes.
*Thematic Units Developed with Educators: Responding to Cultural Diversity and Social
Justice Issues, we deliver customized programs to respond to teacher and students’
needs for a relevant culturally responsive curriculum.
*Celebrating the Personal Narratives of Our Participants: Changing Worlds’ arts programs
amplify youth voices to celebrate the culture/community/heritage of our learners.
The proposed dynamic instruction from Changing World will be provided by teaching artist
Cynthia Johnson- Woodfolk. She will teach the fundamentals of theatrical presentation and
spoken word poetry. She is also a creative writing adjunct professor at Columbia College
Chicago, an actress, and has experience working with different Chicago Public Schools’ students
through Changing Worlds arts partnerships. Ms. Johnson-Woodfolk also has experience with
teaching remotely.
The program, Creative Voices Excel through STEAM, will begin March 16 and conclude
on May 25, 2021. Students in grades kindergarten thru 8th will participate. During classes,
students will investigate how to analyze literary works, and artistically apply their critiques and
interpretations through dramatizations and visual compositions. Students will study a variety of
literary artists, including writers from Chicago, as well as create their own literary compositions.
The curriculum will be based on the synthesis of Illinois Fine Arts Anchor Standards: Creating,
Performing/Presenting/Producing, Responding, and Connecting in addition to arts best
practices, with a STEAM focus that addresses the 21st century skills (creativity, critical thinking,
collaboration, and communication).
Students’ culminating projects will consist of a virtual theatrical production and an art
exhibition, showcasing their learning experiences. I am excited about this original arts
education opportunity Creative Voices Excel through STEAM for the scholars of Amelia Earhart
Options for Knowledge STEAM Elementary School.
Sincerely,
Ms. Grover-Webb
Art Teacher and Arts Liaison
Email: kjgrover-webb@cps.edu