Students in Elizabeth Raney's third grade class at Beckley Elementary are combining curriculum in science and art – a treat they usually don't have.
"They don't have a separate art class all the time. A lot of them, it's the first time they ever really painted with real paints on a canvas, and even really heard of Van Gogh," says Raney.
This project was selected to receive almost $5000 in funding from the LilySarahGraceFund. The fund supports teachers using art, what they call a universal language, to enhance their lessons.
"It feels like it's fun for them, and they're actually creating [something] themselves. And it's kind of hidden that you're actually learning," says Matthew Badger, the organization's founder.
Badger established these efforts after losing his three daughters Lily, Sarah, and Grace in a devastating Connecticut house fire last Christmas.
"I missed them so much, and I couldn't understand where I was supposed to put all that love I used to pour into them," says Badger. "That's where the idea of the fund came [from] because I had to keep fathering them. I just couldn't stop."
Badger says his daughters loved the arts in school and would be proud of his achievements.
"What I felt was that Lily and Sarah and Grace could be like little angels that sort of go out and help other little kids have a really great education," says Badger.
And as for the Beckley Elementary Students –
"They're very interested in science and art. It's two subjects that they love anyways," says Raney.
For more on the LilySarahGraceFund visit http://www.lilysarahgracefund.org/.
Courtesy of Matthew Badger
