A Picture of Practice Showing Students Using the POV Arc in a Classroom

This picture of practice documents how a high school sustainability teacher used an artwork and the ArtC thinking arc Exploring Civic Points of View with Art to engage students in examining human impacts on the natural world. Through a carefully structured sequence of close observation, civic connection making, perspective exploration, and reflection, students analyzed Tamara Dean’s Wormwood to surface diverse interpretations about environmental responsibility, denial, cultural values, and accountability. The routine supported students in slowing down their thinking, listening to multiple viewpoints, and revisiting their assumptions. The experience illustrates how art-based inquiry can foster deep discussion of complex civic and environmental issues while strengthening students’ capacity for perspective taking and reflective judgment.