Last week after RIMOSA visited on Monday to facilitate our nature art project, I thought we would extend the nature theme and complete nature printing with watercolor for a special thank you gift for the representatives from RIMOSA. We set up our summer-backyard-BBQ themed decorations in our large multipurpose room because the weather report was iffy initially, but we eventually moved some of the bubble blowing activities outside. After students made beautiful watercolor prints using ferns and leaves collected from outside, we framed a few in some small mats and sent them to RIMOSA as a thank you gift!
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A few weeks back we had the Rhode Island Museum of Science and Art come in to facilitate a Rube Goldberg roller coaster workshop with our kiddos, and yesterday we were lucky enough to have them come in again and create Andy Goldsworthy inspired nature art using foraged materials. Luckily it was wonderful calm weather- if a little muggy in the sun. We used some of the stones, shells and sticks brought by the representatives from RIMOSA, and the rest we foraged from our playground- wildflowers, fallen leaves and acorns! It was wonderful to be outside and see the students collaborate to use nature creatively!
This week we learned about photosynthesis and the substance that makes leaves green-chlorophyll! We crushed some leaves onto our paper to create a soft green from the leaf pigment and then we added crayon and foam block printed leaves on top of our colors. I incorporate a lot of print making projects because the kids can't seem to get enough of the process of rolling the brayer and lifting the stamp to see the image underneath.
I have since been to two National Art Educator's Association Conventions, once in New York City and just this past March (2019) in Boston. Boston felt slightly less overwhelming than New York, partly because Boston is smaller and the convention was all in one building, but it was still an enormous turnout. It was awesome to see artist Amy Sherald speak and to see all of the things teachers around the world are doing. I was able to gain insights on different tools and techniques as well as simply learn about other teacher's personal journeys. No trip to Boston would be complete without a stop at the Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum to admire the garden courtyard and marvel at the missing Rembrandt (I keep scouring those thrift shops and antique shows hoping it will turn up in someone's old trunk!) Once again I ran into my high school art teacher at the artisans fair and met a handful of amazing teachers doing cool, funky things in their classrooms. Just as before, I left the conference feeling inspired and reassured that I am in the right profession.
This week we focused on literature and how even a children's book can have an impact. The older students completed a lesson related to Harper Lee's classic "To Kill a Mockingbird" where we made silhouette collage paintings based on the cover design inspired by activist/artist Kara Walker. Since the subject matter was a little heavy for the younger kids we learned instead about Faith Ringgold and her quilted "Tar Beach" picture book. We used paper scraps on black paper and patterned paper borders for our "quilt squares".
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AuthorI am currently an elementary Art Teacher in Barrington, RI teaching 4th and 5th grade, previously I worked for over 5 years as an art teacher for students on the autism spectrum and other special needs. Posts from August 2019 and earlier are from my previous job. Archives
July 2021
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