Who doesn't like a little bling?

Now THIS was a cool lesson.... using metallic gold wrapping paper, Fourth and Fifth Grade students created collages inspired by Gustav Klimt's gold-leafed paintings.

This lesson also learned listening skills, math (parallel lines, geometry, vertical vs. horizontal, and congruent vs. similar shapes) and of course, art history.

They're are ready to rock the Geometry portion of the ARMT+ test now.... Thanks Mr. Klimt!

Hanes, Grade 5



Lizzie, Grade 5 

"I'm Yertle the Turtle, oh marvelous me!"

Of course... every lesson I teach, I think the kids do a MARVELOUS job, but this one really takes the cake!

In honor of Dr. Seuss' Birthday week, we read "Yertle the Turtle" as an introduction to our lesson. If you haven't read the book, it is a wonderful story written in rhyme (like only Dr. Seuss can) about a power-hungry turtle king, who is not-so-nice to his subjects.

You check it out here, read by John Lithgow:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FFfbSWbLWw&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

After the story, we practiced drawing a turtle by breaking it into shapes (SYNTHESIS-a higher order thinking skill) on regular paper. When we were ready, we embossed our design in gold tooling foil by using dull pencils and magazine padding.

Aren't these fabulous?

Hippity Hoppity...

This week, Kindergarten and First Grade took a look at a five hundred year old piece of artwork by Albrecht Durer.

We "drew with our scissors" to create one of our own "Chocolate Bunnies!"

While the kids were concentrating on cutting and gluing, I snuck in LOTS of geometry... vertical and horizontal lines, symmetry, rectangles, circles, squares, octagons....

...isn't it awesome how you can teach ANY subject in art class and make it fun? I'm so sneaky...

ENJOY!

Enjoy Art, Culture, and M&M's this Sunday!

So the Weathermen call for rain this weekend... so instead of moping around your house waiting on the sun to come out, swing by the Huntsville Museum of Art and take a look at the Youth Art Month exhibition. Two students from each school in our area have artwork framed and hung in this wonderful, colorful, creative exhibit! The opening reception starts at 1:30 complete with punch and snacks.

Congratulations to Jasmine, (Highlands, Grade 1) Ulysses (Highlands, Grade K), Grace (Blossomwood, Grade 5) and Nancy Kate (Blossomwood, Grade K)! You make me proud.