Second grade students created a clay owl. They learned the difference between modeling clay and real clay. They learned how to add onto a pinch pot by pinching, pulling, and poking the clay. Many of them tried to score, slip and smooth, the process artists use to attach one piece of clay to another. |
Preschool students created a paper collage with cut shapes and paint. This lesson allowed them to practice using little dots of glue, pressing the shapes down with their hand and overlapping shapes on top of other shapes. They created great compositions showing balance between positive shapes and negative spaces. Young Five students learned about the line friends (Straighty, Curvy, Loopy, Ziggy, Dottie, Bumpy and Castle Top. They used black paint on yellow paper. They also learned how to use the drying rack and the sink! During the next class they added shapes in different colors. Kindergarten students created vibrant playgrounds and rollercoasters with paper strips. They learned the difference between two dimensional art that is flat and three dimensional art that sticks out. First Graders are learning about the artist Charlie Harper. We talked about how his art uses basic shapes and colors to create a stylized version of nature. Their birds will be added to a winter scene to connect with the first grade lesson in science about birds in winter. Third graders learned that architects design and plan the way bridges, skyscrapers, museums, houses and schools look. We started the unit by reading the book, Iggy Peck Architect, by Andrea Beaty. Next they created a relief sculpture with corrugated cardboard. We painted the relief sculptures black and then added a shimmer of silver to create a metallic look. Fourth graders created a clay coil pot. They learned how to roll long snake-like coils of clay. They created a spiral shape for the bottom and then started building the walls one coil on top of the other. Students were certain to score and slip between every row so that the coil pot would stay together. After the clay was fired, students chose their own colors of glaze. Fifth grade students are learning about the contemporary artist Kara Walker. Walker is famous for her room- size silouettes. Students brainstormed several ideas before selecting the one that would work best. All of the identification details for their subject needed to be on the exterior contour of the shape, which can be very challenging! Students will work in groups to enlarge their best design for a hall display.
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Preschool and Young Fives are learning how to use a variety of art tools and materials. They started the year gluing paper and using the drying rack. Next they created a painting by stamping circles into tempera paint and filling spaces with watercolor paint. We talked about how to create a composition with balance. In First Grade, students created a still life. This project allowed them to review procedures in the art room (how to get and return supplies, how to independently use the drying rack and sink). The piece started as a review of lines, shapes and patterns. Students painted paper for their vase. They folded the paper and cut it to get a symmetrical shape. As a finishing touch, students painted flowers. Everyone felt proud of their unique creation and felt much more confident using crayons, glue, scissors and paint brushes! Second Grade students created a still life with texture. We talked about the tradition of still lifes and how they give the artist a chance to really study the way something looks. Students placed different textures under their paper and rubbed a crayon back and forth over the top of the paper to get the textures to show up. They are currently adding color with watercolor paint. They enjoyed mixing their own colors and seeing how the crayon textures resist the watercolor paint. In Third Grade we are creating a seascape collage. Each student drew their own pirate ship. Next, they drew a big wave shape. Students are ripping small pieces of paper to create water with many values of blue. After the water is done, they will paint the sky with watercolors. Fourth Grade students created their own loom with a piece of cardboard. They learned the difference between the warp (the yarn that is strung vertically on their loom) and the weft (the yarn that they wove horizontally over, under, over, under). Students were excited to pick their own yarn colors and noticed that many had interesting textures (rough, smooth, silky and fuzzy). Fifth grade students started the year creating an embossed foil piece. First they drew their idea on cardboard. We talked about non-representational art (art with just lines and shapes). They traced over their drawn lines with glue and carefully placed yarn on it. After the glue dried, they smoothed a piece of aluminum foil over the cardboard. They selected a variety of sharpie colors to fill in the spaces. The embossed lines stayed silver creating a stained glass look. Hello, my name is Amanda Wyse and I am the Art Teacher at Thurston. I look forward to meeting new families and seeing familiar faces. Students will work with a variety of materials in art this year. The curriculum includes the role of artists in society, recognizing art as a form of communication, and using the elements of art like line, shape, color, texture and space. Most artwork is saved during the year for displays and shows and will be sent home in June. You are always welcome to volunteer. I plan to set up a sign-up genius to make art room help easy, but in the mean time you can send me an email at [email protected]. We are always in need of the following supplies: Plain white copy paper brown paper grocery bags with handles masking tape packaging tape clear tape cardboard tubes small boxes glue sticks ticonderoga pencils (easiest to sharpen) crayola markers tissues (for cold and allergy season) bandaids The Annual Student Art Show is at the downtown Ann Arbor District Library until May 30. If you are downtown you should check it out! Additionally, student art is displayed at the Reichart building at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital on an ongoing basis. Needed supplies: Please send in brown paper grocery bags with handles. Students will create a portfolio from the bag and bring home their art soon! Also, many kids are enjoying choice time drawing and cardboard constructions. If you would like to donate masking tape or plain white copy paper, they would love to put them to creative use! Current Creations Preschoolers are experimenting with different art tools and materials. We learned how to create lines and shapes from masking tape, crayons, markers, stencils and rulers. Kindergarten students are learning that artists are inspired by the weather. We took advantage of the recent show to create these winter collages. First Grade students created a cityscape collage with tall skyscrapers, a road, and cars. They used paint, paper, scissors and glue. Second Grade students are creating clay owl sculptures. This picture shows the owls after they were glazed but before they were fired in the kiln. The kiln will make the glaze shiny and glass-like. Third Graders created a treasure map. Each map has an imaginary land, a compass, a key, a distance scale, a treasure, names for places and symbols. They used real ink and ink pens and created "burnt" looking edges. Fourth Graders are creating clay coil pots. This picture shows the coil pots while they are drying. After they are dry, they will be fired in the kiln and glazed. Pre-K students are learning different ways to create collage. Collage is art made by combining a variety of materials together to make a picture. Students created a winter tree and a penguin. They experimented with cutting paper and ripping paper. They learned tricks for getting just the right amount of glue. Finally, we practiced using the drying rack, the sink and washing tables. Kindergarten students are working on their clay pinch pots. Students learned the difference between modeling clay (plastic) and real clay (soil). They rolled a sphere, stuck their thumb in it to start a hole, and pinched all the way around. This picture shows the clay in the kiln just after being fired. Students will add glaze and bring them home soon. First grade students learned how to draw people. We talked about how to combine simple lines and shapes to create the people in their family. Students drew details unique to each person. They made the grown ups taller than the kids. Students used crayons in many different ways to add color. They experimented with dark and light value, color mixing and texture rubbing. Second grade students are learning about the artist Georgia O'Keeffe. We read the book, Georgia's Bones by Jennifer Bryant. Students learned that artists can get ideas from the world around them. We started by drawing the flower larger than life to fill the page. Students selected three oil pastel colors and learned how to mix and blend them to create the petals. We will next add leaves, cut out the flowers and glue them to painted paper. Third grade students are creating imaginary treasure maps. Each map has a compass, key, symbols, and distance scale. Students came up with interesting names for places and hid their treasure. We experimented with using real ink and ink pens and discovered how drips and smudges happen. Next we will make the the maps look old with "burnt" edges" and holes. Fourth graders just finished their cupcake still life projects. We looked at the art of Wayne Thiebaud for inspiration. We talked about how he arranges his compositions and his use of color and shadow. Next students drew real cupcakes first with pencil. Students added color with marker, watercolor paint and chalk pastels. Fifth grade students are learning about the artist Kara Walker. Walker is known for her silhouette images which suggest unfinished folklore. Her silhouettes are life size and she often creates many to fill an entire room. Thurston students brainstormed four ideas and enlarged their best to fill a page. We talked about how all the details have to be on the outside contour line to create their shape. Happy New Year! This slide show shows some of the things students have been working on. Pre K students are learning that artists are inspired by the world around them. Winter weather features in their recent collages. Kindergarten is finishing up their texture lesson and starting to learn about clay. 1st grade students just finished the first step of their clay project and will be drawing a family portrait. 2nd grade students are learning about primary and secondary colors and warm and cool colors. 3rd grade students made a collaborative mural honoring Dr. Martin Luther King junior and will next create a Treasure Map. 4th grade students finished their printmaking project and are now creating a cupcake still life inspired by the artist Wayne Thiebaud. 5th grade students finished their painting inspired by the Amate bark paintings of Mexico and will move on to learning about the contemporary artist Kara Walker. Here is a slide show showing a sample of what each grade is currently working on in the art room. All classes started with designing their own sketchbook cover. Sketchbooks are used to practice drawing and generate ideas. Thank you for the many donations of tissue boxes and art supplies. Anyone interested in helping in the art room can email me at [email protected]. I mostly need extra helpers for kindergarten and first grade, but If you'd like to help, you are always welcome! |
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