Several teachers offer extra credit, but science instructor Kayla Brown chose to combine art with chemistry.

Brown gave her Honors Chemistry classes the option to write a short paper about the relationship between chemistry and various areas of art such as sculpture, painting or drawing.

“My husband is an art major,” Brown said. “He has taught me a lot about art, but the only way it usually interests me is if it involves some sort of chemical, compound or formula that I’m familiar with on the chemistry side. I’ve had to learn a lot, but I find it very interesting so hopefully I can expose kids to it. A lot of them are in art classes and they can see different aspects of art and science while researching and writing their paper.”

The paper is worth 20 points, but students also had the opportunity to gain an additional five points.

Students could attend an art show and take a picture of their favorite piece. They then had to include a short statement about why it was their favorite with their paper.

Junior Jaysa Wichers said that her favorite part was going to the artwork and getting to see all the different work on display.

“I didn’t choose one topic,” Wichers said. “I covered painting, drawing, ceramics and the history of art.”

19rporter@usd489.com