Kandinsky Circles

When students come to art on a Monday, it is a rotation day, and my classes are back-to-back with 25 minutes per class. These days, I usually have students finish up incomplete art, but since students didn't have anything to finish, I started something new.


Students were introduced to Russian artist, Kandinsky (Wassily Kandinsky) and looked at his art, Squares with Concentric Circles on the Smart Board. Students pointed out what shapes they saw (circles and squares) and the colors. Each student received a square piece of white paper. Circle shape tracers were provided for students. Each student needed to trace 1 big circle, 1 medium and 1 small. Then,  I had students draw a 4th circle in the middle to see if they were able to draw a circle. They finished by coloring the circles.


Students learned how to take care of the markers in the art room by listening for the KINDERGARTEN CLICK and always putting the marker back the "thumbs up" way (with the color/cap showing).


What I was looking for:
1. Can a student trace and draw a circle?
2. Can the student color in the lines?
3. Can the student hold a marker appropriately?

Harold and the Purple Crayon

The first week of school was a crazy one! Every day was a modified schedule and specials followed the Monday rotation schedule so we could see every student that first week. Classes came to art for 25 minutes, but by the time they actually arrived (a lot were late) the most they were in the art room was 15-20 minutes. I read the book, Harold and the Purple Crayon, and the children drew their own picture of whatever they wanted with a purple crayon. This gave me a good idea of where each student is in their drawing capabilities, if they could write their name and if there were any fine motor concerns. Students took their paper home with them.


The following is what I taught:
1. Wait on the yellow line in the hall until Mrs. Varda invites students to go into the art room.


2. Sit on the carpet in a circle color of their choice.


3. Repeat the message on the board to learn what will be taught in the art room that day.


4. When a bell rings (I call the bell Elsa), students freeze with your hands on your head.
     ~when the bell rings 2x, students can "melt" and start cleaning.


5. Lining up on the black line and counting down from 5 or singing a poem to get quiet for the hall.

Welcome Kindergartners 2016-2017!!!!

Hi everyone!!! I am very excited to meet your child Monday or Tuesday! Some of you may already know me, but those of you who don't, I had a baby this past March and I took the rest of the school year off. Baby Genevieve turned 5 months old yesterday and it is bittersweet coming back after being home with her so long. I'm very excited though and I know she will be in great hands. She will be at the same sitter as my oldest, Melania, who just turned 3 and is starting preschool next week!

A little more about me: my husband's name is Kevin and he is a social studies teacher at Lakota Plains and our anniversary is tomorrow. My birthday is this Friday, the 12th and we are planning to try out the Cine Bistro and possibly Top Golf.

Now a little about the classroom. The best way to reach me is by EMAIL. I travel over to Western Row to teach the SCSF and Resource Room students at the end of the day, so it will be challenging to call you back right away.

Your child will have art 1x a week for 30 minutes, depending on the week. For example, if we are on "week 1" rotation, I could possibly see your child 2x that week; on Monday and on their normal art day. Mondays are shorter, 25 minutes, and I like to use this day as a finishing day or an extension project.

I hold onto art for about a month usually before sending it home. This gives me time to look through and see which group of art I will hold on to for the art show in the Spring.

Some concepts your child will be learning in the art room are: color, line, texture, pattern, artists and art history. My goal is for every student to feel successful and to try their best. I assess each student each week on behavior, fine motor and following directions. I hope they leave kindergarten with an appreciation for the arts!

Materials we use are: oil pastel, liquid watercolor and regular, Sharpies, clay, model magic, glue, crayon, marker, tempera paint. The tempera paint has been known to stain certain clothes, so please provide your child with an art shirt. Please WRITE THEIR NAME in or on the art shirt with a permanent marker in case it gets lost. Your child will keep their art shirt in his/her back pack. The classroom teacher will announce to the class when to put on their art shirt before leaving for the art room.

I look forward to am amazing school year! Please don't hesitate to ask questions!!

I am also setting up an Instagram account for the art room so you can view pictures. 

Colorfully yours,
Sarah Varda