October 12, 2022
This professional development introduced the faculty at the school to polymer clay and connected their learning with the cultural traditions of our region. The Sagrado Corazon Professional Development (PD) training was develped to do this. The Sagrado Corazon or Sacred Heart is a prevalent icon of devotion in our region that is rooted in Catholic iconography but has spread beyond that specific religious context. We knew this image would be familiar to teachers and would ground them as they explored a new medium. We began by demonstrating the basics of polymer clay sculpting to teachers and asked them to create their own sacred heart as a memorial to someone important in their own lives. We connected this activity to the upcoming Día de Los Muertos and the theme for the year of familial capital. We then had teachers go around the room and appreciate the memorial that their colleagues had created. They offered the opportunity to connect with the artistic creativity and personal narratives of the teachers in our school. We closed the professional development by demonstrating how to cure the polymer clay by baking it in a toaster oven.
