Arts Integration Gallery

The Partners in Education program is a national partnership with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and has a primary purpose of creating school/community partnerships to develop/expand arts programs in local schools, as well as promote the professional learning of teachers. Through this partnership, professional artists from around the country come to Kansas City to promote critical thinking strategies by combining an art form with a classroom standard. Research indicates that the arts integration process results in higher test scores; comprehensive research conducted in Liberty Schools reflects those results. 

2024-2025 Year in Review

Learn more about the Kennedy Center Partnership

Through a partnership with What If Puppets, four LPS elementary schools will participate in a year-long artist residency that brings monthly, in-class sessions focused on social-emotional learning and arts integration. These sessions will provide real-time modeling for teachers, offering practical strategies that can be seamlessly woven into daily classroom instruction. This collaboration supports both student growth and teacher development, blending creativity, emotional wellness, and hands-on learning to enrich our educational environment.

Grade 3

In-person assembly September 30, 2025

Plus 2-day Virtual Residency

In this workshop, participants first learn about shadow puppetry as an art form, including performance and puppet-making techniques. They then explore story elements by creating original stories from a “Story Challenge Game.” Finally, they combine art form and content area by learning to facilitate the creation of hands-on shadow puppetry presentations that bring these original stories to life behind the shadow screen

Thur. Sep. 25 | 12 – 3 p.m.
Liberty High School | Grades K-12

Energize Learning Through Dance: The Many Ways to Move Through the Curriculum

Learn how creative movement and dance can elevate instruction in subjects like science, math, literacy, social studies, and SEL. In this interactive workshop, you’ll explore practical, movement-based strategies that boost engagement, reinforce content, and build classroom community. Discover how movement brings curriculum to life!

Sign up form for Energize Learning Through Dance

Mon. Nov. 10 | 5 - 6:30 p.m.
JCCC | Grades K-12

Renowned storyteller and performer leads you through the “Confluence Model of Storytelling” to enhance your classroom communication skills. Explore how  language, voice, gesture, and imagination can intensify a narrative and create a lesson that sticks. Join us for lots of fun and loads of learning!

Sign Up form for The Confluence Model of Storytelling

Wed. Jan. 28 | 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
KCYA | Grades K-12

Props for Hip-Hop: Strategies & Activities for the Classroom & Stage

Explore innovative hip-hop teaching methods, activities, and exercises to supplement curriculum or use in performance pieces. Learn how each hip-hop  element—emcee, DJ, graffiti, and b-boy–can easily be transformed into arts-integrated exercises or performance pieces. For educators, facilitators, and teaching artists of all grades.

Sign Up form for Props for Hip-Hop

Sat. Feb. 14 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
JCCC | Grades K-12

Gain insight into how the arts can help you connect with children with autism. Explore what autism is, learn key strategies to help students with autism experience the arts, and gain practical suggestions and ideas. Prism Project, a performing arts program for students with disabilities, is the foundation for this workshop.

Sign Up form for Reaching Students with Autism Through the Arts

Thur. Mar. 26 | 4:30 - 7 p.m.
Grades Pre-K–3

The Power of Creative Play: Drama & Art for Joyful, Cooperative Classrooms

SMSD Center for Academic Achievement Explore how visual art strategies and creative drama exercises enhance student engagement while fostering a team-oriented learning environment. Using games and group art projects, you’ll discover practical methods perfect for introducing new content, managing classroom flow, and developing social-emotional skills in young learners. Leave with a toolkit of ready-to-use techniques!

Sign Up Form for The Power of Creative Play

Liberty Public Schools is partnering with the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and three elementary schools to bring Thinking Through Art to classrooms. This year-long program uses Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) to support visual literacy, critical thinking, and language development through engaging, discussion-based art lessons.

Museum educators lead ten sessions per classroom with no extra planning required from teachers. Each school also participates in a Museum Night, offering students, families, and staff a shared experience at the museum—complete with free busing to ensure accessibility.

Nelson-Atkins Field Trips