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Art with Purpose: How Magellan International School Brings the IB to Life Through Creativity
At Magellan International School, one of Austin’s leading private schools and a proud International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, the arts aren’t an “extra”—they’re a vibrant part of how students explore big ideas, understand community and culture, and express themselves. In our Primary Years Program (PYP), every art project is intentionally tied to an IB unit, giving students a meaningful way to think, question, create, and connect across subjects.
From Indigenous metalwork and imaginative ink creations to layered printmaking inspired by centuries-old techniques, our young artists use creativity as a springboard for inquiry. Here’s a glimpse into how art, innovation, and the IB come together in Grades 2–5 at our Austin campus.
5th Grade: Four-Color Reduction Printmaking
IB Unit: How We Express Ourselves
Fifth graders explored visual communication through a four-color reduction printing series inspired by Johannes Gutenberg’s early printing innovations. By carving into a styrofoam plate and adding a new color layer each week, students learned how each stage must align to create a final image.
This hands-on project mirrors the layering process used in today’s digital design tools—skills students will continue building throughout their IB journey at Magellan.
Students practiced:
- Color layering and alignment
- Sequencing and problem-solving
- Historical connections to early printmaking and modern design
Image Placeholder: 5th Grade Printmaking
4th Grade: Future Vision Book Covers
IB Unit: Who We Are
As part of the International Baccalaureate emphasis on identity and perspective, fourth graders imagined who they might become in the future. Through gesture drawing and figure studies inspired by fashion layouts, each student designed a “future self” book cover capturing their hopes, interests, and aspirations.
This project invited students to reflect deeply on who they are—an essential element of the IB Learner Profile.
4th Grade: Pottery Inspired by Navajo Traditions
IB Unit: Where We Are in Place and Time
Fourth graders also explored the functional and cultural purpose of pottery by studying Indigenous Navajo traditions. Students learned about natural resources, hand-building methods, and how cultures use art to tell stories before creating their own bowls from earthen clay.
The final pieces—fired and glazed—connect history, art, and everyday life in a meaningful, tangible way.
3rd Grade: Metal Repoussé Inspired by Indigenous Art
IB Unit: Where We Are in Place and Time
Third graders examined the artistic traditions of Indigenous peoples from North, Central, and South America. After studying symbolism and cultural meaning, they used tools to press designs into metal sheets, creating textured repoussé artworks that were painted, sanded, and framed.
This project deepened students’ understanding of cultural perspectives—one of the pillars of the IB’s global mindset.
3rd Grade: Set Design for “The Legend of the Bluebonnet”
In a collaboration between Art and English, students designed tipi-inspired pieces and bluebonnet artwork to set the stage for their fall production of The Legend of the Bluebonnet. This interdisciplinary work reflects the IB PYP emphasis on transdisciplinary learning across subjects.
2nd Grade: Ink Monsters
IB Unit: How We Express Ourselves
Through playful experimentation, second graders blew ink across paper to create organic shapes, then rotated and studied their forms—eventually transforming them into whimsical “ink monsters” with expressive details.
The project encouraged students to interpret, imagine, and think flexibly—key skills emphasized in the IB Primary Years Program.
2nd Grade: Inventing New Fonts
IB Unit: How We Express Ourselves
Students explored typography and how fonts convey meaning, tone, and mood. Rather than relying on pre-made digital fonts, they created original alphabets “off computer,” tapping into imagination and communication skills.
This hands-on project strengthens symbolic understanding—an important element of early literacy, design, and IB learning.
Creativity with Purpose at Magellan International School
Across Grades 2–5, our Primary School art studio is a place where creativity fuels inquiry and global thinking. Students learn to:
- Express ideas clearly and confidently
- Explore culture and history through hands-on making
- Think like artists, designers, and innovators
- Connect classroom learning across subjects
- Develop communication and critical-thinking skills
- Celebrate individuality within a globally minded community
Projects like these highlight what makes Magellan International School a standout private school in Austin: a commitment to creative exploration, International Baccalaureate excellence, and authentic, purposeful learning.
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