something like this?” With tremendous enthusiasm and engagement, students agreed that they could indeed create a field guide about our local environment, and the unit expanded exponentially in a highly interdisciplinary collaboration.

The third-grade classroom teachers had students practice their research and classification skills by discovering information about the specific birds that they observed and drew in my art class.

With several lectures and visual
explorations, Lynette Michel, our
other art teacher, introduced students
to the traditions of naturalist art his-
tory. Looking first at the drawings
and paintings of John James Audubon,
she then showed students the diverse
work of William Morris with his focus
on the natural world and decorative
design. Students used Morris’s work
as inspiration to create their own indi-
vidualized covers for each field guide.

Future Plans and Reflection

Next year, we plan on expanding this unit, bringing in further studies of other local fauna and flora. Adding to the master digital file over time, the Saint Thomas School field guide will grow to include research by future third-grade classes, ultimately providing a comprehensive visual resource about our local area.

The 2011 St. Thomas Field Guides
are a good example of how students
and teachers can be inspired by col-
laborative explorations across the cur-
riculum. Anchored in visual inquiry
and practice, informed by research
skill development, and inspired by the
traditions of naturalism, art and sci-
ence have found a synergistic home
in this wonderful resource for our
entire community.