Miami Beach Cultural Institutions Take Center Stage in Public School Curriculum

(Miami Beach, FL) Jan 17, 2019 -

Beginning this month, thousands of Miami Beach public school children will discover the science of gravity by studying a ballerina’s graceful performance or learn the complexities of coding in the context of measurements of music. Students will be taught music by some of the world’s greatest young musicians and learn art from museum scholars and curators.

The City of Miami Beach, in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Public Schools System (M-DCPS), is bringing arts and culture to the core curriculum of its local public schools with the launch of the STEAM Plus pilot program. In partnership with six of the City’s prestigious and world-class cultural institutions — The Bass, Miami City Ballet, New World Symphony, Wolfsonian Museum, Jewish Museum of Florida and Young Musicians Unite — this initiative will be part of the daily curriculum and will combine the existing subjects of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics with age-appropriate cultural education curated and taught by artists and professionals from Miami Beach cultural institutions.

“This collaboration will create unique education initiatives that are exciting and elevating,” shared Mayor Dan Gelber. “Each of these world class institutions will animate our schools and our children’s imaginations with their art, music and culture.”

The six institutions will bring the cultural scene directly into the classrooms of Biscayne Elementary, Fienberg Fisher K-8 Center, Nautilus Middle School, North Beach Elementary, Miami Beach Senior High School and South Pointe Elementary. Taking Miami-Dade County Public School System’s STEAM initiative to a new level, the innovative programming will also help local public schools achieve STEAM designation if they haven’t already.

“This is the best possible investment Miami Beach city officials could have made for students and families. It serves as a significant enhancement to the long-standing partnership between M-DCPS and the City of Miami Beach,” expressed Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho. “The Mayor and City Commission have demonstrated clear leadership which is pivotal to providing instructional resources that are making teaching and learning exciting for educators and students.”

After the pilot project is completed, the City plans to collaborate in the fall with additional institutions, including The Irie Foundation and Miami New Drama, among others, to introduce rhythm arts and drama, as well as expand the initiative to all grades and schools. For more information, visit http://stem.dadeschools.net/.

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About The Bass
(Partnered with North Beach Elementary, Nautilus Middle School, Biscayne ES, South Pointe ES, Fienberg Fisher K-8 Center, and Miami Beach SHS) The Bass IDEAS education initiative uses art as a catalyst for creativity and growth. The Bass will engage students to think creatively to solve real world problems such as sea level rise, climate change and poverty. Students will learn how arts integration with other subject areas (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) is especially important to our communities in South Florida and throughout the world. Students will create art works that can displayed at the Bass Creativity Center.

About Miami City Ballet
(Partnered with Nautilus MS, Biscayne ES, South Pointe ES, and Fienberg Fisher K-8 Center) Through creative movement and production design students will explore the world of dance and movement. These classes will assist in creating group interaction, creativity, body awareness, and classroom etiquette while collaborating with other subject areas like math, science, technology and engineering. From learning how the gravitational pull helps us move around, discovering how movement effects our bodies, to measuring the distance it takes to have sets cross the stage. Some partnerships will culminate in a short showcase displaying what students have learned.

About New World Symphony
(Partnered with Miami Beach SHS) Currently working with Miami Beach Senior High School’s music programs to provide a creative approach toward activating the imaginations of youth through musical activities focused on classroom engagement and discovery of classical music. Students are introduced to new instruments, pieces and equipment when working with the New World Symphony artists, world renown musicians. Students will learn how science, math and engineering has helped pave the way for music throughout time.

About The Wolfsonian–FIU
(Partnered with Nautilus MS) The Wolfsonian is offering an intensive variant of its already-established STEAM X Design and Zines for Progress programs, reformatted for delivery in two Grade 8 classes at Nautilus Middle School. In-class delivery involves a series of three visits to each classroom by a teaching artist, as well as one field trip to The Wolfsonian. This amounts to seven distinct touch points between The Wolfsonian and Nautilus Middle School.

About Jewish Museum of Florida
(Partnered with North Beach ES, South Pointe ES, and Miami Beach SHS) Dedicated to telling the story of more than 250 years of Florida Jewish history, arts and culture, with a growing collection of more than 100,000 items, the Jewish Museum will be educating students on the curating process of a museum, printmaking and the importance of STEAM in everyday life. Students will learn the ancient practice of lithographs, and printmaking. Students will learn the importance of mixing the proper chemicals so that they react in the correct way, while learning of the process it takes for an exhibition team and curator to create the exhibitions and displays you find in museums. Through engineering, technology and mathematics the preparators build and tear down spaces of the museum to create the end product guests often see.

About Young Musicians Unite
(Partnered with Nautilus MS, Fienberg Fisher K-8 Center, and Miami Beach SHS) Young Musicians Unite (YMU) will be providing teaching artists to help students learn the importance of STEAM in the music world through coding, recording, and practice. Students will learn the science behind each instrument, how each horn creates sound waves that travel through the horn and into our ears. Through peer to peer mentoring, YMU engages students of different backgrounds and brings them together through a shared passion for music. YMU will be assisting schools struggling to maintain their instruments and equipment by teaching students how to repair their own instruments and supplying the tools needed to continue growing each program.