My 5th grade students do not understand the way history is represented through art. By completing this track, my students will gain the skills mandated by the Tennessee Curriculum Frameworks. The framework states: Through the study of the visual arts, students learn that art is universal, made by all humans in world cultures throughout history. As children study about artists, their work, and how that work communicates cultural values and beliefs, they gain vivid insight into the cultural and historical forces that shape an era. Through exploring their visual world, children learn about the role of art in their everyday lives. The students will "use the Internet" to take a virtual tour of Voliis Simpson's farm in North Carolina. The students will "try more than one way to solve a problem" when they create a simple weathervane out of cardboard or wood. The students will "try something that seems hard to do" when they use a variety of "junk" to create a piece of art work. The students will "relate what they learn to other subjects" when they interview family members about art work in their home. The students will read stories about quilt making, and "use what they learn" to create their own class quilt. This unit will allow my students to close their learning gap while learning about their own art history. The students will create their own canvas floor cloths and placemats. The students will complete a variety of fun art activities that require them to use creativity. The research and reading portion of this track will also help my students reach the goals stated in our School Improvement Plan. The plan encourages an increase in reading skills.