COLOR for EVERYONE: March 2012

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Clay Creations this week

Second Grade's Empty Bowl Project. Stamped pinch pots with coil added for a foot. Next week students and staff are welcome to purchase home made pottery with can foods. All food donations will be given to local food bank. Each student made two small pots.

First Grade Jim Dine Hearts. February lesson

I drew a heart on a sheets of card stock, copied on copier for a class set, and elaminated them. Students rolled long coil and layed it down on heart outline. Then they rolled balls of clay and put them inside of heart. After it was all full they smoothed the heart together, balls and coil. Then they wrote their name on this side,and poked a hole through top with a needle tool. Because the sheet is plastic it will hopfully peel off clay heart. Then to daa the front of the heart is shown. This texture is great. Do not let the student smooth that together. Some will try. I added raffia through hole for a nice touch.

Third Grade clay animal bowls. Students made a pinch pot and scored and slipped animal parts on.

Fifth Grade Goblets. Students made a pinch pots. Then created a coil foot, with coil embellishments on top. Full lesson: https://store.schoolspecialty.com/OA_HTML/xxssi_ibcGetImage.jsp?name=Sax-LP_Majolica-Goblets

These are some embellisments that I made for the top and sides of globet, for examples.

Polenta Staff Monuments

This lesson I borrowed from http://elementaryartfun.blogspot.com/search/label/Monuments, but I tweaked it a tad to fit my art supplies.

We began the lesson talking about monuments. What they are and some examples around the world. Then we focused on monuments of people, and what kind of characteristics a person would have to have to be inspiring. We brainstormed these on the board.

We discussed how all of these characteristics really show in our teachers/staff at Polenta.

Each student was to pick one staff member at school and to create a three dimensional monument of them. In each class no more that two students doing the same person.

The above site really has a great overview of this lesson. However I used wheat paste instead of glue. We did use toilet paper (thanks to our custodians hooking us up). paper towels too hard to shape and mold. Instead of poster board..I had already ordered these from school specialty

Roylco Stand-Up Self Portrait Art Project Kit - 6 1/4 x 9 inch - Pack of 40 I did however rip the backs off and create my own with tag board and hot glue.

Students painted over their paper mache (i did however prime them with gesso myself first) and they added yarn for the hair and other embellishments for fun. They put a clear sealer/varnish on top of the paint too. The very last day they added a name plate and wrote why their staff member is inspiring. Several are focused in the display case outside of my room (see pics).

I plan on having a monument exhibit the week after next in the media center to display all of them. Staff is getting a hoot out at them and think they are great.
I think it makes the staff members feel special to be thought of.

Next nine weeks when I do it all again, maybe I won't do the paper mache?

Why. time. It took two class periods just for that. Several for the rest. A long project. But fun.
I think however the mache that was on the best parts of the projects for the students.

Great pic of what I added on the backs of all

Mr. P, movement teacher with his whistle!

What this student wrote about their second grade teacher was adorable.

Our custodian, Mr. James. Several were done of him.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Show Case of Stars 2012

Show Case of Stars March 9-11th.

I chose two more works of art from each grade level to be displayed at our county visual and performing arts weekend. The Polenta Treble Makers will be performing Sunday afternoon.

I think our displayed rocks! It is full of color and creativity. I am very proud of my students.