Third-grade Teacher Destiney Amos helped lead the trip and said she was inspired to bring scholars to the DIA and show them one of the best museums in the country.
“They needed to go because it’s so widely known and so important,” Amos said. “But I also think it’s important for students to know this is nearby. They can go see art from 700 years ago and it’s free right down the road.”
She said the field trip came at no cost to Hamtramck families thanks to the DIA, which paid for buses so scholars could see a wide variety of art. The museum houses more than 65,000 works of art with different styles and countries of origin. DIA showcases American, European, African, Asian, Native American, Oceanic, Islamic, and ancient art among other styles and origins.
With a large Islamic student population at Hamtramck, Amos said a lot of students related to the art section from their culture. Amos said some third-graders were reading portions of the Arabic displayed, offering an engaging connection point for scholars.
The displays also related to recent curriculum for third graders. Before the field trip, they learned about cross-stitching and the children who created through that medium in the 1800s. While at the DIA, scholars got an up-close look at this artform and related back to their lesson on cross-stitching.
Scholars got a firsthand look at one of the country’s largest and most renowned art museums, the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Scholars’ eyes widened on the second floor of the DIA, which featured massive sculptures. Amos called the student reactions her favorite part of the day, and said they couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw the statues towering over them.
Throughout the day, scholars asked many questions about the various works of art, the artists behind them, and the styles on display. This kind of curiosity should come as no surprise, as Hamtramck has outperformed the local district for the last 14 years.
Scholars were eager to go back to the DIA, and luckily for them, residents of Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties can visit the museum for free.
While a trip back to the DIA isn’t imminent for Hamtramck third graders, Amos said scholars had a memorable experience.
“It was very rewarding to see kids’ eyes glow as they walk in and see the huge hallways and all this art,” Amos said. “Some of them had never been to a museum before, so it was really great to see their eyes sparkling and asking so many questions. I’m glad they had a good time.”
Many scholars were eager to go back to the Detroit Institute of Arts and have that opportunity, as residents of Macomb, Wayne, and Oakland counties can get in for free.
What an awesome opportunity! Great work, Destiney, and all of Hamtramck!
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About Hamtramck Academy
Hamtramck Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Hamtramck, Michigan, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA®) network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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