After the death of George Floyd, 05/25/2020, introspection of policing, especially in the African-American community erupted across the nation and throughout the world. Police corruption, brutality, training, and insensitivity once again came into question. Many talks about defunding the police, where community resources where going and how they were being utilized surfaced. This collection shows a snapshot of police interactions and seeks to foster dialogue about this issue.

Students will explore the subject of policing and police brutality. This collection invites students to analyze images as well as articles that tackle this difficult issue of policing. Students will select specific images they like, reflect on how this topic effects them and the communities in which they live in as well as foster healthy debate by creating visuals that reflect their own viewpoint.

Activity 1: Image introspection-This can be used as a warm-up. Students can participate in group share outs of their thinking. (I See, I Think, I Wonder)

Activity 2: Small Group Topic Discourse-This can be used to foster discussion and establish prior knowledge. Think, Pair, Share about the topic. Students can participate in discussion about this topic. (Why might this topic matter to me?, Why might it matter to people around me, Why might it matter to the world?)

Activity 3: Intrapersonal Topic Exploration-This can be used to help students isolate their point of view and establish a platform for more inquiry and their project base. Students can use this mindful moment to write their thoughts about this topic in their visual journal. (What would it be like if…, How would it be different if.., Suppose that.., What would change if…, How would it look different if…)

Take Action: Creative Expression-This can be used as an expressive way for student to continue self-inquiry and share their viewpoints visually. Students will have the opportunity to choose the way in which they wish to express their viewpoint in this project. (

Critique- Large Group Topic Discourse- This can be used to foster healthy discourse, discuss aesthetics and technique. Students will share their creative works and discuss their process and viewpoints. Their peers will analyze their work and exchange viewpoints during the critique.

Students can use the following protocol below to formulate questions and responses during the critique.

Description of the artwork(Look, Identify, Describe)

• Name objects
• Describe the Elements Art
• Describe materials and the techniques that are used
• Identify what genre of art it could be categorized as
• Identify the style of art it could be categorized as

Formal Analysis of the artwork (Discovering relationships within the art)

• Find examples of unity through repetition
• Look for variety through contrast of shapes, lines, etc.
• Look for center of interest(focus point, eye grabber_
• Look for balance and rhythm

Interpretation (Figure out the meaning of the artwork)

• Use evidence within the work to figure our a meaning of the artwork
• Talk about what the artist is saying and state the reasons why

Evaluation (Forming a judgment about the artwork)

• Is it a quality piece of art and why?
• Is it aesthetically pleasing and why?
• How does it compare to similar works?
• Was the artists successful in how they executed the work and why?

#civicdiscourse