Adventuring Through the Art Museum

Have you been to the beautiful and amazing University of Michigan Art Museum (UMMA, pronounced, and rightfully so, ooh-ma)?

If you're a third grader in Ypsilanti Community Schools, you either have or soon will!

We continued our epic partnership with UMMA and YCS this year, once again offering free field trips to the museum to every third grade class in the district.

Picture it. During this field trip, students imagine that they are shrinking down to the size of a paper clip, and then they "jump inside" different pieces of art at the museum. They work with educators from 826 and UMMA to write creative survival guides (how-to writing), giving advice for how readers might survive inside of different art pieces. Students’ writing is published in a lovely chapbook that they get to take home with them!

Before the field trip, staff and volunteers from 826 and staff and docents from UMMA visit the classroom for a mini lesson to prepare students for this special experience. The day of the field trip, students get guided tours of the museum. There, they are invited to explore their curiosity among the artworks themselves. After writing, students wander the museum and see their survival art pieces in real life.

We're *pretty sure* we know what you're thinking. This sounds awesome, says your brain. I wish I could do something like this! Well, we have good news for you . . .

A celebration of art & writing!

@ UMMA

525 S. State St. | Ann Arbor

Thursday, May 11 | 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Mark your calendars!

This spring, we're celebrating the amazing work YCS students have written during these field trips . . . and you're invited!

Join us for student readings next to the artworks that inspired them, art activities for all ages, and yummy eats!

We'll also be having a Raise a Glass & Cash after party at Slurping Turtle, immediately following this event, co-hosted by our 826michigan Board of Directors and friends of 826 Amanda Uhle and Joe Malcoun. Interested? Email Executive Director Megan Shuchman for details!

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uplifting and inspiring content!

Speaking of amazing literary stuff happening in our very midst, March is Reading Month! (Sure, WE think that EVERY month is reading month, but we're more than happy to celebrate regardless!) Interested in story time -- for the little ones AND for adults? Check out Our Community Reads, an initiative started by some of our friends at Erickson Elementary in Ypsi.

Looking for some great reading material? Look no further than our Student Writing Gallery!

Prefer reading material you can hold in your hands? Don't forget to support 826michigan and our students by grabbing some of our student publications!

826michigan inspires school-aged students to write with skill and confidence in collaboration with adult volunteers in their communities. We serve nearly 2,700 school-aged students with writing and tutoring programs in Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, and Detroit. We also have two robot shops which support our free student programs.

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As an organization committed to encouraging youth in their creative expression, personal growth, and academic success, 826 National and its chapters recognize the importance of diversity at all levels and in all aspects of our work. In order to build and maintain the safe, supportive 826 environment in which great leaps of learning occur, we commit to inclusion: in recruiting and maintaining our volunteer base, in our internal and external relations as members of an 826 staff and board, and in our relationships with parents, teachers, schools, and most importantly — students.