Becoming California Historians: Supporting Interactive Learning

By Dylan Lanza Desio, PVF Program and Communications Associate

Recently, Brisbane School made use of our Visiting Artist Grants, helping to bring a historian and hands-on learning to their students. The Visiting Artist in the Classroom Grant enriches the classroom environment by fostering deeper engagement with school curriculum through creative, experiential learning. From interactive workshops to hands-on art lessons, students immerse themselves in experiences that leave them excited about learning.

This month the fourth and fifth grade classes at Brisbane School brought in California Weekly Explorer to create an interactive learning experience. Students gathered to act out key moments in California’s history using props and costumes, turning a theatrical presentation of history into a way to fully engage with and absorb their curriculum. Students stepped into historical roles to reinforce their ongoing study of the American Revolution.

Collaborative, participatory lessons like this one give students room to be creative in how they learn, while building skills in performance literacy, listening, and vocabulary development. Grant like this one help ensure art and exploratory lesson plans aren’t out of reach for school communities that need them most.

Thank you for allowing us to have this opportunity that would not have otherwise been available to us due to the cost. We are now California Historians!

— A Brisbane School Teacher

Check out our page on the Visiting Artist in the Classroom Grant. Funding will be available again in the Fall of 2026. The grant opportunity is open to any TK-12 grade teacher working at a low-income public school in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara County.  Explore the website page linked above to learn more about the application process and how you can help bring experiential learning to your classroom.