Elk Ridge Elementary’s 4th graders are learning how creativity can connect art, science, and local history through a cyanotype project that resonates with this year’s World Cyanotype Day theme: Cultivating Community. Using one of photography’s oldest techniques, cyanotypes, students gathered local plants, arranged them, and exposed them to sunlight – transforming simple materials into works of art that carry both personal and shared meaning.
This fall, Elk Ridge Elementary’s 4th graders are experiencing the power of creativity, science, and local history through a cyanotype project that beautifully aligns with this year’s World Cyanotype Day theme: Cultivating Community.
Inspired by one of the oldest photographic processes, developed in 1842 and notable for its signature Prussian blue prints, students harvested local botanicals, composed dynamic arrangements, and exposed them to UV Rays to create stunning photograms.
Alongside the hands-on printing, students discovered a meaningful connection: cyanotypes originated around the same time Buckley was founded, creating a unique bridge between the art they are making today and their town’s history.
For the students, this project isn’t just about making art—it’s about understanding that community building is culture building. As part of a broader learning arc, this lesson invites them to reflect on how shared creative processes connect people to place, each other, and the past—echoing the spirit of Cultivating Community on a global scale.
Their work will be displayed as collaborative installations at the Foothills Historical Museum, where they’ve partnered to host a special reception for students and families on Friday, September 19, from 6–8 pm.
In the words of one enthusiastic student: “We’re so excited our prints will hang in a real museum!” And in this moment, their excitement becomes a celebration of how creativity roots us to our community.
World Anthotype Day
World Cyanotype Day