SLO Vocabulary Assessment...

 Today, I have to administer the SLO Vocabulary Assessment to the kindergarten classes...boo. So, when your child comes home and says they took a test on their "extra art day", you will understand what they are referring to.

Madcap Puppets

Madcap puppets will be coming in this week to work with 2nd grade students. They will create and take home a puppet all in the same day! If you would like to help with the 2nd grade puppets please email me. Pictures will be posted during the week. 

Students created their puppet from a pre-dyed sock, empty water bottle, styrofoam ball and collage items (pipe cleaners, googly eyes, pom poms, foam shapes, fabric). Pictures are from Mrs. Glass' class.

Visiting Artist

Starting April 28th, visiting artist/musician Michael Bashaw will be working with all kindergarten students to create a collaborative art project that will be installed in the school. Last week, children sketched their design for the project in which they created a symbol. We discussed what a symbol is and looked at symbols from Africa, Australia, China, United States and Native American. 

Michael cut many different geometric shapes out of a plexi glass material and the children will draw and color with Sharpie their symbol onto the shape the following week. After Michael has enough pieces completed, he is going to string them together which will then be suspended from rods close to the ceiling. The location of the art will be in front of the large arched windows in front of the library. It will be quite the statement piece!

Pictures will be posted as we work and if you are interested in helping please email me. We will need help starting Wednesday or Thursday. 

 These are finished strands that I just hung from the ceiling in the art room until next week when they will be installed in the entrance of the school! 

Kindergarten Art Show!

Thank you everyone who attended the kindergarten art show last night! I know the week is a busy one with the music programs, so thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to see your child's masterpiece and view art created throughout the school year.

I've included pictures of the show below along with the activity that was in my room. 

Recyclable Object Prints

Kindergarten artists are stamping, which is a type of printmaking, with recyclable objects to celebrate Earth Day. We are celebrating a week early since next week we will be getting ready for a visiting artist (more info on that coming home soon). Students are using plastic cups, corks, caps from containers, toilet paper rolls, empty thread spools, empty water bottles, sponges, and cardboard pieces to stamp their masterpiece. Artists had a choice of creating a picture from stamping the items or creating an abstract piece of art from stamping.

Sick...

Oh, it's been a whirlwind of a couple weeks in my household!  I am ready for all sickness to go away. My daughter caught a 24 hour stomach bug on Friday night which landed me getting it after I was already at work Monday morning. I was out yesterday afternoon and there was a sub who fulfilled my lesson plan. Today, however, my position wasn't filled/couldn't find anyone to cover even though I posted it yesterday!  I found out all kids had to be doubled up in the gym. 50+ kg students in half of the gym. Poor Mr. Stevens, but he is a trooper. I will be back tomorrow and already on the mend.

Gearing up for the Art Show

Kindergarten artists will be gearing up for the art show this week by creating their name tag for their masterpiece that will be in the show. The children will also start helping me with decorating large canvases for their Music Concert later this month with Mrs. Downer. Pics will be added later this week! 

"Silly" Self-Portraits

LThe week before spring break, kindergartners were introduced to artist Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) and Cubism (where Picasso took apart objects and "analyzed" them in terms of their shapes). Picasso was a Spanish artist and one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. 

Kindergarten artists created a "silly" self-portrait inspired by Picasso by adding lines and shapes when drawing their face. They looked at Weeping Woman (below) for inspiration and we discussed the painting. Children drew their self-portrait using black Sharpie and colored it in with oil pastel. 

 Weeping Woman

 Chicago Picasso, a 50 ft. sculpture downtown Chicago