09/04/2026
Every so often, a space in our building stops you in your tracks. That is what happened this summer in our art room, where Ms. Christina Camarato spent countless hours turning four ordinary walls into an immersive, bug-filled world for our students. Picture oversized insects perched around the room, hand-painted murals climbing the walls, and sculptures that turn an ordinary classroom into somewhere you want to explore.
The theme was a labor of love. "I love bugs, and they are fun to draw," Ms. Camarato told me. Insects make for a fantastic drawing exercise, pushing young artists to slow down and look closely. There is a quiet lesson tucked inside, too. Drawing crawly things nudges some students out of their comfort zone, and that is often where creativity begins. "I thought it would help get some kids out of their comfort zone to draw crawly things and help us be more creative," she explained. And yes, she also admitted she simply wanted to spend her days in a bug room. Who could blame her?
Her favorite part is the giant bugs she built by hand, big enough to make you feel a little smaller when you stand next to them. Her murals and sculptures also give students real, up-close examples to spark their own ideas. And the theme is no mere backdrop. It runs through every lesson while still meeting our art standards, with our fifth graders diving especially deep into installation art. As she put it, "The overall appearance of the room makes coming to art even more fun and magical for students, and hopefully more memorable."
Our other wonderful art teacher, Ms. Josie Talve-Goodman, shared what she has seen from the room next door, "Ms. C spends hours outside of the school day preparing for her lessons each week. She has been talking about her fabulous bug-themed room since last year, and it is better than I could have ever imagined. She makes learning so fun that even I cannot wait to see the surprises she has planned each day, but the best part is seeing the kids' reactions to her special flair. Ms. C makes learning so much fun!"
Our students have noticed the care in every corner, too. Cora, a fifth grader who dreams of becoming a teacher herself, told me how much she appreciates the detail Ms. C put into the bugs painted on the walls, and how she loves when artists pay attention to those little details. Anthony, another fifth grader, said that in the art room he feels like he is in his own special little place, one that helps him focus and inspires him.
The hours Ms. Camarato gave over her summer were not required of her. They were a gift, offered because she believes the space our children learn in should feel exciting, welcoming, and full of wonder. If your child comes home talking about the giant bugs in the art room, ask them what they have been creating. I have a feeling you will hear some wonderful answers.
