Walk into any math class at Gahanna Middle School West, and you will see JiJi everywhere.
Students take part in classroom and schoolwide ST Math challenges throughout the year, and their progress is proudly displayed on bulletin boards and classroom walls.
But one teacher wondered: What happens to JiJi after math class ends?
Art teacher Peyton Wedekind turned that question into an opportunity for creativity and connection.
Creating Space for Every Student to Be an Artist
Choice-based art and student self-expression are central to Ms. Wedekind’s art classroom.
“I want all students to leave middle school believing that they are an artist,” she says.
Students begin with a shared prompt, then choose how to bring their ideas to life—whether through clay, digital art, drawing, or painting. Ms. Wedekind layers in specific techniques once students have had the chance to create their ideas and decide on their medium.
“My favorite prompt was the Imagination project, where we could make up any non-realistic thing we wanted,” said 7th grader Amara B. “I chose mostly drawing for that project. I created a Snowman on the beach.”
Connecting Art and ST Math
Ms. Wedekind noticed something during class time.
“Whenever students weren’t participating in art, it was often because they were working on ST Math,” she says. “So I thought, why not use that as inspiration?”
She challenged students to design a coloring page featuring JiJi, inviting them to imagine what adventures JiJi might have beyond math class.
The results reflected both creativity and personal connection.
Navea G., 7th grade, loved the challenge. “I saw JiJi’s backpack, and it made me think it would be a good idea for JiJi to ride the bus like I do.”
“I love summer and surfing, so I wanted to show JiJi doing that,” added Jayonna C. “We get to express ourselves in all different ways.”
Amara agrees that getting to pick her own projects is the best. She took her idea even further.
“I imagined JiJi walking on the moon. I looked up photos of Earth from space so I could draw it accurately.”
From Creation to Recognition
After completing their designs, students voted on their favorite JiJi adventures. Winning pieces were reproduced and shared, giving students the experience of becoming published artists.
For Ms. Wedekind, the project reinforced an important idea: creativity and learning don’t happen in isolation.
“Art doesn’t just happen in art class,” she reminds her students. “It happens anytime we express ourselves.”
“I love art! It was the best class of 8th grade,” says 8th grader Austin S. “It relieves stress, and I love creating things.”
Inspired by these student-created JiJi adventures? Download free JiJi coloring sheets and invite your own students to imagine where JiJi goes beyond math class!
