Students from grades six through twelve view the "Deep Research" series of underwater photographs by Meryl Meisler. Follow-up activities include discussion, research, and writing about the species of fish and coral in each picture as well as identifying architectural details. Each student can create an illustrated glossary of architectural terms and styles. The library depicted in the series is the Arts and Humanities Branch of the Mid-Manhattan Library at 42nd Street in Manhattan. Students visit http://www.nypl.org to learn about the library's history.

The students also write an imaginary narrative describing what is going on in one of the underwater pictures and discuss the mythical continent of Atlantis. They locate and discuss the passage in Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea that describes Captain Nemo's tour of Atlantis. 
Teachers can divide their class into small groups (3-4) to discuss the following: Digital media can archive books and make them accessible via the Internet; how will this effect schools and libraries? Are teachers and librarians replaceable by digital databases and virtual classrooms? Are institutions of learning destined to sink?

Students are assessed by their participation in discussions and by their written work.

What You Need
Deep Research requires two class periods to complete. Computers with Internet access and word processing software are necessary, and students need a working knowledge of computers.

Overall Value 
The Library represents the world of ideas and knowledge. The arts, education, and libraries face cutbacks in government funding. The sea is a vast and integral natural resource that faces environmental challenges. This project focuses on the need for society to appreciate, nourish, and preserve its treasures and resources, and the students develop their comprehension, oral, written, and technical skills in the process.

Tips 
When creating small discussion groups, appoint or have students self-elect "recorders" (who take notes during discussions) and "speakers" (to report findings to rest of class). 

Standards
Responding to and Analyzing Works of Art. Students will respond critically to a variety of works in the arts connecting the individual work to other works and to aspects of human endeavor and thought. 

Project_URLs
http://www.asci.org/womentek/mm.html, 
http://www.nttad.com/asci/archive/lumen/m.html, 
http://www.asci.org/news/featured/meisler/meisler.html 

Meryl Meisler, a 20-year veteran of the New York City public schools, teaches digital art at The Institute for Collaborative Education (a small 6-12 school) and is on the Board of Directors of  The Teachers Network. Among her career highlights is the inclusion of her students' collaborative work in the Whitney Museum Biennial, the Queens Hall of Science collection, and the New Museum of Contemporary Art. Meryl's own multimedia artwork has been widely exhibited internationally, and her solo show at Grand Central Terminal was featured in WIRED magazine. She is also the recipient of numerous grants and awards.

Region: New York City

Estimated Class Periods to Complete: 2

Subject: arts, social studies

Grade Level: 6-12

e-mail Meryl

A Project of The Council for Basic Education and Time Warner

all images Copyright © 2000 Meryl Meisler