Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Students worked very hard in art class this week and stayed focused in the face of the upcoming Christmas break.  Thank you, students, for your hard work and enthusiasm!  Have a very merry Christmas.

Kindergarten

Ms. Culbertson & Ms. Larson's class was the only kindergarten to meet this week, as the Friday classes were canceled for the half day and Christmas party.  Students participated in a guided drawing lesson in creating a realistic snowman.  We reviewed how to avoid "scribble-scrabble" drawing and instead draw carefully, filling up blank space with crayon.  We also incorporated pattern into our drawings.  Then, we glued falling snow in the form of cotton balls.  Great work, kindergarten!

First Grade

First grade students reviewed concepts of symmetry they had learned in math class and applied them to their artwork!  We created a line of symmetry by folding green paper "hot dog style."  Then, we drew half an outline of a Christmas tree to cut out.  When we opened up the cut paper, we revealed a perfectly symmetrical Christmas tree!  Then, we adorned our trees symmetrically with cut and glued ornaments of construction paper and tissue paper.

Here is a look back, also, at our snowmen paintings and our Matisse cut-out display, which will be coming down shortly.

Second Grade

Second grade students learned about radial design.  We separated the word "radial" by syllable to identify the word "ray" inside it.  The sun's rays, a flower, and a snowflake all have radial designs.  Then, we used geometric and organic shapes to create radial designs resembling snowflakes to decorate our art room.

Also, take a look at the display of 2nd grade's art for the Christmas show!  Special thanks to Ms. Clune and Mrs. Lewis for creating the beautiful displays at both campuses!

Third Grade

A letter went home this week with third grade students to prepare for our "Found Object Sculptures"! Be sure to return from break with a Zip-lock bag full of found objects labeled with your student's name.  Meanwhile, third grade students also learned about movement in art and ways to create it.  We observed the lively art of Keith Haring, whose work adorned many public spaces in New York City.  His figures were bright and colorful and showed lots of movement.  In fact, students may recognize his trademark style of art from the "Best Buddies" logo.  We learned a strategy for drawing figures like his: we start with a stick figure and then draw a line around it and erase the stick figure.  Then, we began coloring in highlighter to evoke a similar cheeriness to our images. Students may continue working on these drawings as we begin gluing our found objects to our wooden letters.  Parents who wish to be involved, please email me to arrange your visit! Volunteers welcome!

Fourth Grade

Fourth Grade students painted their "Pop Art" meals this week with acrylic paint.  When we return from break we will apply acrylic gloss for a lovely finish.

Fifth Grade

Fifth grade used balloons as the base for creating a plaster gauze hot air balloon!  (This is the same material used in creating casts for broken bones.) We reviewed the science concept of convection students learned in the fourth grade in describing how hot air balloons work.   Soon, students will learn about weather and air in their self-contained classroom.  We are looking forward to finishing the construction of these hot air balloons and painting them in colorful designs and patterns when we return from break!

Sixth Grade

Sixth grade students learned about triptychs.  We used word parts to identify the prefix, as we are studying prefixes, roots and suffixes in Language Arts.  We looked at examples of triptychs in Catholic art.  Then, we identified some common religious symbols to draw on our cardboard panels.  Last week, we went over these symbols in glue to create a texture that would be revealed this week when we overlaid aluminum foil on our panels.  Students glued and taped aluminum to keep it secure.  Then, they pressed gently on the foil to reveal the impressions of their glue designs.  Next, we used embossing tools to add more detail.  We applied shoe polish for a burnished finish.  Students really enjoyed using these unusual materials for their art project!

Seventh Grade

Seventh grade continued working on tessellations this week.  Students who had finished tracing the shapes into one another devised unique ways to draw inside.  Some students used gradients in applying colored pencil for value.  Others worked in warm and cool colors or patterns.  Still others created different scenes inside of each shape.  Well done, 7th grade!

Eighth Grade

Eighth graders reviewed concepts of positive and negative space as we began our Multicultural Art unit with African masks!  We looked at a series of African masks from National Geographic online, identifying common themes or symbols.  Many masks featured animals native to the country of origin.  We also found the different countries on a map of Africa.  After drawing inspiration, students drew half of the symmetrical mask on a piece of white paper.  Some students began cutting out pieces to be flipped across a line of symmetry onto black paper.  Check back after break for pictures of all students completing this fun process that makes concrete concepts of positive and negative space.