We often like to put labels on things, but what’s happening in this classroom is hard to put your finger on. You have two teachers, one is a scientist, the other an artist. They’re working together, helping 8th graders create art, but woven into each piece is their knowledge of environmental science. “It’s both equally important. It’s good to have a creative to show in an artistic way, but it’s also scientifically what’s happening in the real-life world,” said Allison Martinez, a student in the class. She says she’s learned that protecting the ocean is about so much more than just not throwing litter in the water. They’re mixing shells and fishing line into their artwork to show more “It’s representing the marine life and how it was before it was being destroyed and before the overfishing happened and before they were all over and destroyed, and it’s just showing the beauty of the ocean and how it is before it is destroyed,” Martinez said. This is personalized learning preparatory at JW Ray learning center, where kids get to take something they’re passionate about and really dig in. “I knew that people put like big nets in the ocean, but I didn’t know they put fish back in the oceans,” said Taye Larocca, another student. This class is happening after the school day ends. These are kids interested in the environment, art and even history. They’re learning how the Mayans used weaving and are using some of those techniques in the art. They’re combining all their individual passions together in one project. “Anything like this that you have, where it’s tying that educational information into something they’re putting their hands on and creating themselves, it really sticks in their memory and they’ll carry it forward,” said Chris Venable, the science teacher. ” When they realize that they have the voice and art can be as a vehicle, it can be used as a tool to help them spread awareness to the issues that are happening today, I think that’s what’s the most powerful thing,” said, Carla Renteria, the art teacher. All the knowledge, environmental science, history and art are literally woven together and put on display at Dallas city hall, along with literature about the lessons learned. They’re hoping it will grab attention and make all of us think twice about saving the ocean ...read more read less