*Also, thank you to our classroom volunteers, Mrs. Russell and Mrs. Harrison! As always, your presence was a special treat for our class, and we are grateful you were able to make it. Parents, you are always welcome if your schedule permits.*
Important note for grades 5-8: A letter went home this week inviting students and families to participate in the Art on Sedgwick program this year to be held at Franklin Fine Arts Center and pairing with the Simple Good program. This art show and celebration is a wonderful opportunity for students to use their art to grow community and help others. This year it will be held May 7 from 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m (open house style).
If you and your family are interested in attending or participating (your child's art may be displayed with your permission, even if you cannot attend), please return the slip provided to Mrs. Musick as soon as possible. We are looking to display student portraits done at school or outside of school (some suggested ideas: 5th grade portraits in profile, 6th grade hand castings, 6th grade mixed media self portraits, 7th grade Chuck Close portraits, 8th grade blind contour portraits). These portraits and others will reflect our community pride, identity, and the "Simple Good" of our neighborhood.
Kindergarten
Kindergarten students shared their prior knowledge about the season of Spring and what it brings with it: usually lots of rain, mud, and puddles for splashing! Keeping with this theme, students listened to poems about Springtime before learning about the wet-on-wet watercolor technique. In this technique, students placed water on their heavy-duty watercolor paper first before then placing watercolor, which would next feather out, on top. Students also learned how to set down a "path" of water before adding watercolor, which then spread out to follow the path! Students thrilled to see this process. Next, they drew umbrellas, with guidance, on the back side of their paper before cutting it out and pasting it onto construction paper. Great work, Kindergarten!
First Grade
First grade students reviewed their knowledge of May Day (May 1st) and its festivities before creating crowns that they will wear in their upcoming celebration of this holiday for Music! Students either traced "tracers" shaped as flowers or drew their own. Then, they had them hole-punched and chose different colored pipe cleaners on which to string the colors and twist into crowns. We can't wait for May Day!
Second Grade
Second grade concluded their illustration related to their fairy tale in Writing Workshop. Students learned to apply colored pencil in one direction only and to begin lightly, adding color more heavily, gradually. They also learned that drawing edges darker and blending inward can give the effect of volume or dimension. Finally, they learned to layer analogous colors next to each other on the color wheel for additional depth and richness. Their illustrations were very lively and entertaining! Small groups worked on painting a special prop for the Spring Show.
Third Grade
Third graders learned about art in Chicago, from a review of the modern architects who created the Sears (Willis) Tower to the many artists who participated in the "Cows on Parade" exhibit dating back to the previous century (hard to believe, isn't it? See background HERE.). In small groups, students painted a Chicago-inspired artwork that will revealed later as a prop in the Spring Show. At their seats, students invented new ideas for Cows on Parade, were it to be displayed now. A popular choice: Chicago style hot dogs painted on cows.
Here are some of last week's Chihuly bowls:
Fourth Grade
For their study of contemporary artists, fourth grade learned about Alexander Calder and were captivated by THIS video on TeacherTube.com, featuring Calder's circus-inspired kinetic art. They also looked at examples from our own city's collection at the MCA. Then, students sketched ideas for their own wire sculptures to be completed in steel wire, just like Calder, and pipe cleaners. Finally, they began to experiment with the media and start on their own creations.
Fifth Grade
Fifth grade concluded their nature and man paintings in watercolor. Early finishers contributed to our bulletin board, to be revealed soon, featuring an inspiring quotation about the power of a positive attitude.
Sixth Grade
Sixth grade learned all about Pop Art, from its definition to its most famous artists to its time period and place of origin (Britain, 1950s). Students learned that the Pop Artists wanted to have a bit of fun and lighten up from the intensity of the previous art movement, Abstract Expressionism. Pop Artists used bright colors and repetition to signify the idea of mass production of widely consumed products (Andy Warhol), as well as a cartoon style (Roy Lichtenstein). Students then began Lichtenstein style portraits to be completed with highlighters and bubble wrap painted with neon colors! Early finishers will create "Handy Andys," or multiple prints of their hands on brightly colored paper in an Andy Warhol style.
Seventh Grade
Seventh grade continued their unit in Modern Western artists, examining the work and ideas of Henry Moore. Henry Moore said, "To be an artist is to believe in life." What a beautiful way of summing up the work that we do in class! All our students showed their own enthusiasm and contagious energy as they worked hard and shared in laughter creating sculptures with wire hangers, styrofoam squares and, of all materials, stockings, after reviewing safety precautions for using wire. Next week, we will paint these unique creations.
Eighth Grade
Eighth grade shared ideas from their film study of "Food, Inc.," a documentary film examining our food and how it is created. We shared in a discussion of how film can express ideas or investigate topics to help others develop a new understanding of these topics. Several students posed ideas for potential films of their own: What is the life of a student really like? or How can we be good friends and bystanders in the event of bullying? Students will have the option to pursue these ideas further when we begin our independent project to end the year after the Odyssey through the Arts presentation that is coming up soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment