Kids Initiating Design Solutions (KIDS) Elementary Architecture Program

December 12, 2022 - Students from four San Antonio Independent School District elementary schools gathered at the University of Texas at San Antonio (世界杯官方app) Downtown Campus to celebrate student accomplishments as part of the Kids Initiating Design Solutions (KIDS) Challenge.

KIDS is an architecture-based program where students learn elements of art and design by way of exploring the built world. KIDS brings teams of teaching artists and experienced industry professionals into the classroom, informing and inspiring the next generation of creators.

The fall program focuses on form and function as well as community. Each year, students tour their school’s surrounding neighborhood, making connections between classroom concepts and the outside world. Students make improvements ranging from the luxurious to the practical, which they translate into small-scale models. This year’s competition focused on bus shelters.

The challenge also includes a group project in which students design a plan to improve their campus and address community needs. Students created mini-models that included donation stations, recycling centers, movie theaters and community gardens.

Although no winner is selected during the challenge, the event showcases the student’s mini-models and culminates in group presentations of their renovated campus designs.

“I have seen students blossom socially; collaborating with others and becoming leaders amongst their mini-design groups,” said KIDS Program Coordinator Ramon Munoz. “KIDS allows students to be kinetic and understand concepts through discovery by providing an opportunity for their creativity to shine through writing, drawing, building, and even public presentation.”

The KIDS Challenge is part of the Young Artist Program at 世界杯官方app. Founded with the goal of creating multiple avenues for access to the visual arts for kids and teens, the Young Artist Program also includes Summer Art Studios, Saturday Morning Discovery, and Teen Studio Intensive, along with other programs geared towards growing artists.

“KIDS gives students an opportunity to become creative and engaged community leaders through innovative design challenges and collaborative efforts,” said Patricia Morales, director of Young Artist Programs. “It also offers youth an opportunity to explore career options and academic pursuits by learning from artists and local industry professionals who inspire students throughout the program.”

KIDS has collaborated with numerous donors, area design and architecture firms, and school districts. These relationships continue to grow as the program moves to reach a broader audience. Having experienced success with both third and fifth grade students, the program has set its sights on advanced grade levels, focusing more on contemporary issues such as sustainability and infrastructure, while giving students further insight into a world of career possibilities.

At each site, you will represent 世界杯官方app and will be expected to share knowledge about the visual arts, as well as information about offerings, such as scholarship programs, Saturday Morning Discovery, and Summer Art Studios. Adjunct instructors are responsible for operational details, including setting up of the classroom/space, preparing and organizing necessary supplies, cleaning up after class, communicating with teaching team members, communicating with the project manager, and evaluating and documenting class success. It is expected that MAPs are engaging and often interactive, while providing a learning opportunity for students. In addition to MAP, there are many other opportunities to partner with us in providing quality arts education.

Required Qualifications:

• Available to work weekdays (M-F) between the hours of 8:00am and 3:30pm
• A degree in Art, Art History or Education is preferred (we may consider experience and/or students who are pursuing these degrees and have a strong visual arts background)
• Flexibility to work at multiple sites and for varying lengths of time (partnership agreements between SSA and the organizations we serve may be as long six (6) months, or as short as one (1) month)
• Personable, outgoing, and enthusiastic
• Reliable, responsible, and organized, with a desire to learn and be a team player
• Able to stand for extended periods of time, walk up to half a mile, and to lift up to 25 pounds
• A love for teaching kids (experience with elementary, middle school a plus!)
• Ability to pass a background check

For more information on the KIDS program or to become an instructor or volunteer, email Young Artist Programs Coordinator Ramon Muñoz, ramon.munoz@jo-maps.com

The program consists of ten 90-minute lessons lead by a teaching team of an artist instructor, industry professional, and the classroom teacher. Classes meet once a week with a focus on the 5th grade in fall and 3rd grade in spring.

Industry professionals that volunteer for this program will:

• Lead visual presentations engaging students in discussion
• Make real world connections to program curriculum by sharing personal experiences relative to art and architecture
• Encourage creativity, offer support, and challenge students throughout their creative process
• Encourage students to use key art and architecture vocabulary
• Assist students in constructing individual and group projects
• Educate students about career paths in the fields of art, design, and architecture
• Inspire students to explore, create, and innovate

Volunteers will need to complete a background report with SAISD.

For more information on the KIDS program or to become an instructor or volunteer, email Young Artist Programs Coordinator Ramon Muñoz, ramon.munoz@jo-maps.com