Project-based learning brings art, culture and real-world skills to life at Encina High School

In an art classroom at Encina High School, students are applying their knowledge through project-based learning (PBL), an approach that emphasizes hands-on work, collaboration and real-world relevance.

Art teacher Natalie Reynoso says that she incorporates PBL into her classroom because it gives students the opportunity to explore their identities and interests, all while building skills they will carry with them long after high school.

She explained that students are assigned two-week projects that require them to create initial drafts, collaborate with classmates and then meet with her before beginning their final design. Reynoso said those steps are intentional and mirror expectations students will face in college and future careers.

“They do revisions. They work with their classmates on their ideas, and throughout the whole process, they’re taught to manage their own time,” Reynoso said.

December’s project invited students to create overhead drawings of holiday or cultural foods, an assignment that encourages creativity while honoring Encina’s diverse student population. Reynoso said the project is especially meaningful because it allows every student to participate, regardless of whether they celebrate American holidays.

“For students who don’t celebrate American holidays, they still have their favorite cultural foods. It’s a project that I really love doing because all of my students are into it and interested in it, and they have a lot of conversations with their classmates about their favorite foods,” she said. 

For 11th grader Somaia, the cultural food project sparked creativity and reflection. Her piece included kebabs and an Afghan dish called Baadenjan-e-Sia, along with salad, beans and pizza.

She said the project taught her patience and encouraged her to connect art with personal meaning.

“It’s not just drawing. It’s about the passion we have, not rushing, just step by step. Being patient and enjoying it,” Somaia said.

Somaia added that the project helped students reconnect with cultural traditions that may not always be present in their daily lives.

“A lot of us are not from here, and we don’t have the option to eat food from our own culture most of the time,” she said. “This project gave us time to think about our own culture and foods from before. Some of us may not know our own culture because we spent a lot of time growing up here, so this project makes you research your own culture of food.”

11th grader Carolina said her project became a reflection of her relationships. Her artwork included Mexican tamales to represent her own heritage, Salvadoran sandwiches for her godmother’s culture and chicken kabobs symbolizing a friend from Pakistan.

“My favorite part so far has been incorporating the different cultures into one,” Carolina said. “I incorporate the love I have for my godmother and my friend by incorporating the foods that I really do enjoy from their cultures.”

Kayla, a 12th-grade student, created a piece featuring jambalaya, chicken, sweet potato pie, macaroni and cheese, and collard greens. She also included the Black American Heritage flag, which helped her reflect on her own identity.

“This project relates to me being African American because some of us don’t know our roots and some do,” she said. “There’s a lot of different dishes you can incorporate, and I love my people. I love standing up for my people.”

Reynoso said these kinds of projects are about much more than the final artwork.

“My students may never draw a turkey again,” she said. “But they are going to be given assignments in college and at work. They’re going to need to do research, drafts, meetings, work with others and meet deadlines. The whole process of a project – it’s not about the turkey. It’s about skills they will use in college and career.”

Through projects like these, Encina students are learning that creativity, collaboration and cultural understanding are not just part of art class, they are essential skills for their futures.