Edmondson Park

The Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission engaged two internationally-known artists, Thornton Dial and Lonnie Holley, to create site-specific public art works for the newly revitalized Edmondson Park (overseen by the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency). This project honors William Edmondson, a native of Davidson County and a self-taught sculptor. Edmondson was the first African American artist to have a solo exhibition at the New York Museum of Modern Art (1937). Like Edmondson, Thornton Dial and Lonnie Holley are self-taught artists. The Metro Arts Teacher Cadre worked together to create two (middle school and high school) standards-aligned, interdisciplinary curriculum units that focus on the new art installation in the revitalized Edmondson Park in Nashville. The lesson plans are shared to benefit Nashville-area teachers and others throughout the Tennessee and the surrounding region.

Unit Components

Unit Variations

Blooms taxonomy level: 
Applying
Differentiation suggestions: 

The websites in the interactive reading sections can be adjusted to different websites on students reading levels or the questions from the reading can be adjusted.

The product can be adjusted to meet the students’ needs.  The product can be less open-ended and provide guided questions for students who need the scaffolding.

Helpful Hints

This Unit is split into two different types of lessons based on the grade levels they are to be taught in. Some are meant for Middle and others for High school level students. The Subject Areas covered in this Unit range from English/Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Visual Arts.