Exploring Conflict and Survival through Art and Literature

This month, our eighth-grade students embarked on a powerful interdisciplinary exploration of conflict and resilience, guided by a lesson from the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM). Blending English Language Arts with visual art, students tackled the essential question: “What can we learn from the stories of conflict survivors?”

Through literature like The Diary of Anne Frank and a curated selection of historical artworks, students examined how individuals and communities endure hardship and emerge with strength and insight. Highlights included analyzing Winslow Homer’s Our Watering Places and Howard Cook’s Weary Men, which opened discussions on the emotional toll of war, and Charles and Ray Eames’ Leg Splint, linking design to humanitarian aid.

Students also reflected on broader themes of survival through works like William H. Johnson’s Convalescents from Somewhere and Chiura Obata’s Regulations, which prompted deep questions about the long-term effects of conflict on children and families. A poignant comparison between Anton Refregier’s Children at Buchenwald and a photograph of Anne Frank further encouraged critical thinking about how history is remembered and represented.

To conclude, students captured their emotional responses to each artwork in a single word—an exercise that deepened their connection to the stories of survival and resilience.

This lesson not only fostered empathy and historical understanding but also empowered students to see art and literature as tools for healing and reflection. As we continue exploring our year-long theme, “How are we created by conflict?”, we look forward to more moments of insight and inspiration.

— Mr. Brundage, M. Ed.
8th Grade English Language Arts & Drama