About the Art: Birds of Prey
Tenaya Elementary School used this project as a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) lesson for the Sixth and Seventh grade students. Art teacher Sarah Graham challenged students to create artwork that represents our community and environment, competing for the winning design chosen by the Yosemite Chamber of Commerce.
Birds of Prey
Yosemite is home to over 260 species of migratory birds and transient birds. If you’re into raptors there have been sightings of Red Tailed Hawks (Chicken Hawks), Falcons, Buzzards and, yes, even Bald Eagles. Artist Kayden Halcon chose local birds of prey to highlight one of the many unique and fascinating features of our northern California mountain area.
Tenaya Elementary School's teachers set a goal for Sixth and Seventh grade students to create artwork that represents Groveland and our surrounding environment for viewers from all parts of the community and the world who will see these designs as they travel into and through the town of Groveland and into Yosemite National Park. Using a STEAM instructional model, Tenaya students learned about the (S)cience and (T)echnology behind our BigBelly waste bins, which are solar powered, compacting, and wireless, as well as practicing (M)ath skills to produce (A)rtwork in sizes and proportions compatible with the BigBelly dimensions.
Students were awarded points based on all elements of the lesson. Their teachers selected the top three finalists, who presented their designs to the Yosemite Chamber of Commerce judges. Winning finalists were Jema Powers and Alexis Janitz; Kayden Halcon's "Birds of Prey" was the overall winner.