Kindergarteners love building stuff. Even if the stuff is cups, bottle caps, lids, and toilet paper tubes. Let them play and they’ll create cities, airplanes, fish, people, robots, and trees. After reading The Dot, students used these “dot objects” to construct abstract 3D collages. Next, I have to decide if we’re going to paper mache over, smooth aluminum foil over, or gesso and paint?
The second graders will soon be learning about butterflies and life cycles in science class. To get a head start, they are studying symmetry in butterflies in Art. (Plus now they now the differences between butterflies and moths) After drawing symmetrical drawings, students transferred their images onto foam, and carved in the lines. After printing the foam plate, they will create collages using the many versions of prints they experimented with.
While the 5th graders have been working on observational drawings of shells, the spec. needs 4/5 class has also been exploring shells, but in all mediums. Most recently, they created plaster molds of shells. First, the smoothed a layer of clay into a round container. Second, we pressed small shells into the clay’s surface, creating negative imprints. Lastly, we mixed up a batch of plaster and poured it on top of the shell. About an hour later, the plaster pops off, leaving positive casts of the shells!
For the next month, 15 students will have their self portraits on display in Superintendent Young’s office. The 4th, 3rd, 1st, and JK students show a lovely progression of knowledge and skills in regards to self portraits. This timeline of sorts is a small sample of self portraits that every student will create every year.
As an introduction to symmetry, the 2/3 spec. needs class used paint and folded paper to mimic the patterns and shapes of a butterfly. This was their first experience with squishing wet paint between folded paper, and they absolutely loved it. I bet they could have made these paintings for hours if they could!
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