Digital Arts Library

So many of the students we serve experience not only economic poverty, but poverty of experience. Our students have little to no access outside of school to an arts education. How would we stay connected with them digitally? We shifted from in-classroom teaching to thoughtful and fun digital content focused on social/emotional learning, taught by a staff of teaching artists who are professional dancers, actors and musicians, all at a high level in front of and behind the camera.

“smART breaks,” our digital arts library of classes, came to life!

In partnership with Stages, one of Houston’s premiere professional theater companies, we filmed 30 dance, theater and music classes for early learning students ages 2 to 4, and elementary students grades pre-K to 5th.

What does a “smART breaks” class look like?

Two main characters introduce smART breaks – Mr. Zo (an avid gardener and nursing student) and Captain Hope (a pilot and adventurist), two friends who have moved from Nice, California to Houston, and find their new home at Stages Theater! 

Mr. Zo and Captain Hope focus with humor and compassion on a social/emotional learning skill – self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills or responsible decision-making. They then welcome into their home a teaching artist friend who leads students in a fun and engaging music, dance or theater class.

Visit the smART breaks website here:  https://www.smartbreaks.org 


More educational resources on our Digital Arts Library YouTube: 

  • “Take 5’s” are five-minute breaks for upper elementary, middle and high schools, where teaching artists lead students in mindful exercises – breathing, improvisation, musicians playing their instruments, and brain dances to help focus students. 

  • “Reading for HOPE” reading series features Houston celebrities and other guests reading from new and classic children’s books.

If you are an educator and interested in how to utilize the digital arts library with your students, please contact us at info@hopestoneinc.org. Academic resources include TEKS/SEL Guides and Vocabulary.