GENTRY, AR — Fourth grade students at Gentry Intermediate School recently had the opportunity to explore creativity, movement, and self-expression through a special arts education program presented in partnership with the Walton Arts Center.
Teaching artists from the Walton Arts Center visited the school to lead Hip Hop Knowledge Drop, an interactive program designed to introduce students to the core elements of hip hop culture while building important academic and social skills.
During the program, students rotated through several hands-on learning stations. Each session focused on a different element of hip hop, including writing and performing original lyrics, learning the fundamentals of dance, and creating original artwork inspired by hip hop culture.
The program blends artistic expression with education. Students practice literacy skills as they write lyrics and explore storytelling, while dance sessions emphasize physical activity, rhythm, and coordination. The art component encourages creativity and visual expression, allowing students to communicate ideas in new ways.
Beyond the artistic elements, educators say the program helps students develop collaboration, confidence, and communication skills.
“Experiences like this allow students to explore creativity while also strengthening important skills such as teamwork, literacy, and self-expression,” said Kristen Smartt, principal of Gentry Intermediate School.
The Hip Hop Knowledge Drop program is part of the Walton Arts Center’s broader arts education outreach, which brings professional teaching artists into schools throughout Northwest Arkansas and the region. By connecting students with working artists, the program aims to make the arts more accessible and show young learners that creativity can be an important part of their future.
For students at Gentry Intermediate School, the experience offered a high-energy day of learning that combined music, movement, and art while introducing them to new ways of expressing themselves.
School leaders expressed gratitude to the Walton Arts Center and its teaching artists for bringing the engaging program directly to campus.
Partnerships like this one help expand educational opportunities for students and demonstrate how the arts can play a powerful role in building confidence, creativity, and a love of learning, Smartt said.