**Thank you so much to this week's classroom volunteers, Mrs. Bredemann, Mrs. Benjamin, and Mrs. Harrison! You had such an impact on our students' learning.**
***All parents, please note: I have begun a Google calendar for parents to sign up to volunteer in the art room, particularly the K-2 classroom but all grades welcome. If you would like to sign up and are Virtus certified, please contact me for an invitation to the Google calendar.***
Kindergarten
Students learned about Vincent Van Gogh this week. We began by observing "The Starry Night," especially its visible brush strokes that Van Gogh used with his "impasto" technique. We also watched a Brainpop, Jr. video that taught us more about Van Gogh's life and how he liked to use color to express his feelings. Then, we participated in a step-by-step lesson to create our own version of "The Starry Night" in oil pastel! We concluded with a reading of Sky Color by beloved author Peter H. Reynolds. We noticed the connection between this text and "The Starry Night": the artist in each scenario painted a beautiful sky with many imaginative colors!
First Grade
First grade continued to explore symmetry; this time, we explored symmetry in relation to the upcoming Valentine's Day holiday! Students created symmetrical hearts by folding and cutting across a line of symmetry. Then, students traced the heart according to their own design across a piece of watercolor paper. Some students drew inspiration from the Jim Dine painting with four hearts evenly placed into four quadrants of a paper. Others chose to overlap or create other unique approaches. Finally, students created designs in oil pastel. Many attempted to blend the oil pastels into one another as demonstrated in class. Next week, we will paint our hearts!
Second Grade
Because of the snow day, only one second grade met this week. We learned about 3-dimensional form, and how it is not flat like 2-dimensional planes. Students explained that 3-D objects can be viewed from all different angles, unlike many of our 2-D projects. Then, we began the process of creating Jim Dine-inspired heart medallions with radial swirls inside them using clay! The first step was to play with the clay to warm it up and make it flexible. Students greatly enjoyed creating impermanent 3-D creations during this stage. In small groups, students learned how to make a pinch pot formed from a heart. Then, students learned to roll the rest of their clay into thin strips to be formed into spirals and placed inside the hearts. Students pressed the spirals in to join the pieces together. The next step was to smooth out cracks by putting water on our fingertips and sealing the gaps. Next week, we will paint out hearts and finalize them by applying oil pastel if time (and timely drying) allows.
Third Grade
Third grade students brought in resealable bags filled with many fun and unique "found objects" for our found object sculpture this week! Students began by arranging the found objects on the wooden letters they received. (Each student received the letter of his or her first initial.) Once students had decided upon an arrangement, they worked to complete their Haring-style movement drawings from last week as they awaited their turn to glue. Our parent volunteers, Mrs. Bredemann and Mrs. Benjamin, worked to help students glue their objects to their letters by having students tell them where to place the objects. Parent volunteers then applied hot glue to ensure strong adhesion. This helped facilitate the process tremendously! Next week, students will select a color to paint their letter and found objects for a very lovely sculptural effect! Below, see both of these ongoing projects.
This final artist seemed to have drawn inspiration not only from Haring but also from Marc Chagall!
Fourth Grade
Fourth grade students applied acrylic gloss to their Pop Art Meals. Then, as the gloss dried, students learned about proportions of the face in preparation for our upcoming Saint Portrait project. We observed how the eyes are actually halfway from the top of the head to the bottom of the chin; in addition, the nose falls halfway between the eyes and the chin and the mouth halfway between the nose and the chin (lots of fractions!). Some students began sketching their saints. Check back next week to learn how we will transfer these sketches into an apparent "stained glass" portrait of the saints students are studying in their self-contained classroom.
Fifth Grade
Fifth grade was canceled because of the snow day. We will have to wait one more week for the painting and further construction of our 3-D hot air balloons!
Sixth Grade
Sixth grade put their planning skills (both conceptualizing and sketching) to work this week in preparation for a fun and tactile (and gooey) project that combines symbol and self-portrait! Students will be making a plaster gauze mold of their own hand as a symbol. Students reviewed the meaning of a symbol, and how we can sometimes make a symbol through a gesture or way of holding your hand. For example, a thumbs up can signal enthusiasm or encouragement; a peace sign can show a happy attitude. Students also observed the sign language alphabet. Then, we reviewed the definition of a self-portrait. We know that the portrait need not be of one's face only to be a self-portrait. Students viewed videos of how to cast a plaster mold of your hand and passed around a sample casting to see its flexibility. Then, students wrote their plan using words and drawings for teacher approval. Next week, we will roll up our sleeves (quite literally), and get started expressing ourselves through this art project!
Seventh Grade
Seventh grade continued to work on their tessellations. Students have shown perseverance in the face of a time-consuming and detail-oriented project. Great work, 7th grade!
Eight Grade
Eighth grade continued their African mask project using positive and negative space. This project required some very careful cutting under close supervision; students waiting to use supplies that are limited in the classroom worked independently to create beautiful chalk pastel renderings of the Northern Lights. Still others offered to volunteer in preparing plaster gauze for the sixth grade. Thank you, students, for showing consideration for your fellow classmates at ICSJ!
Stay warm this weekend!
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