Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Camping, anyone?

This is a classic...."hmmmm what do I need to get rid of?"..... lesson.

Over run by matboard scraps, construction paper scraps, and random craft materials, we came up with this campground lesson. I say, "we" because literally that's what happened. I started teaching them to make an organic, abstract design with construction paper scraps and it turned into these adorable campgrounds.

 
 
Students, folded, crimped, cut and glued paper to make their own campsites, complete with tents, cots, blue cellophane "fishing holes," campfires from orange party streamers and tree and bushes galore.
 
Well done, campers! You are ready for Summer!
 

Monday, May 20, 2013

Panda-monium!

Okay, go ahead and laugh... but I couldn't help including that pun!

With our new building at Blossomwood came the return of clay projects.... which I know are my students' absolute favorites.

 
Beginning with a pinch pot, the students added paws, head and tail with tiny details. Then came my students second favorite part: PAINTING!
 
 
 
 
And here is the end result... absolute cuteness.
 
So when you put this precious little piece in your china cabinet, just remember all of the CHEMISTRY and SCIENCE your child learned in art class while working on these...Trust me, there have been many "kiln explosions" that have taught me how to become a better art teacher.
Ceramics isn't easy. Your kids earned these guys.
 
**Special thanks to my super art assistant, Danica, who helped me load and unload the kiln without a single broken piece!