Back after Break

Hello everyone, and Happy New Year!  I was so glad to start back at school this week.  We've had some great lessons and learning happening in the art room.  Plus, I am working on selecting pieces for the annual Michigan Art Education Association Region 11 Art Exhibition at the Saginaw Art Museum.  This is a highly competitive art exhibit, and I'm hoping that we will have some students move from the regional level to the state competition. . . .I'll give you an update once our pieces are selected.

Here's what's been going on this week:

Kindergarten:  Students have been continuing the lessons on color.  We practiced how to organize the rainbow through a story, a review lesson, coloring our own rainbows.. . now our lessons are culminating in Rainbow Chameleons.

First Grade:  Students are putting their knowledge of lines and patterns to use, along with watercolor resist, to create Pattern Names.

Second Grade:  Second grade artists have been learning about a variety of Modern artists.  Their inspiration has led to some fantastic artwork.  Here is what they are doing with the art of Joan Miro.

Third and Fourth Grade students are learning about color also.  They are creating Tints and Shades abstractions.

Fifth and Sixth Graders have been studying art history this week.  This month's unit is about ancient Mesoamerica.  They are learning about the art of the Olmecs, Toltecs, Mayans and the Aztecs.

Seventh and Eighth Grade:  The current unit is called Surrealist Rooms.  In this unit, students review what they know about one point perspective by first creating a room in correct perspective.  Next, they looked at and analyzed the art of the Surrealists, and they created a list of characteristics as to what makes an artwork Surreal.  They then apply the characteristics to objects, people, animals and other things that they add to their rooms.