Learning Link December 2nd Edition

Greetings from the Art Studio!

It is hard to believe the New Year is right around the corner!  After break students will be looking at their saved artwork and experiments to decide what to keep, which pieces need a bit more work and what can be turned into something new.  Artists will be working toward presenting their artwork for display.  New national art standards support reflection and presentation along with creation, and this will be an ongoing process.  We will also have a big printmaking unit and turn our classroom studio into a print shop.

Fiber arts has been a popular center since opening during the holidays!  At school we use burlap and large plastic needles (which can be purchased inexpensively almost anywhere in the sewing notions section of most stores) with yarn, but these skills transfer seamlessly to a sharp needle, thread and cloth for projects at home.  Stitching, sewing, and yarn handicrafts are wonderful ways to keep hands busy and minds occupied during the winter months.  The studio always appreciates yarn donations.  J

Have a restful and restorative holiday break!  Please make time for the wonder of imaginative play.  Childhood experiences and family traditions create memories artists tap into throughout their lives and boredom is the seed of many artistic adventures.  Please remember your library has passes to local museums, and families get free admission if they present an EBT card.

Artfully yours, Ms. Benton

Stitching Fun

Artists are having a great time persevering through challenges now that the fiber arts center is finally open!  Stick weaving, cardboard looms and stitching and sewing on burlap is happening through various upper grades.  1st and 2nd graders have jumped into "picture stitch"  which is drawing on burlap with watercolor markers and then stitching around using a plastic needle and yarn.  Artists have pushed through the frustrations of tying knots, fixing stitches and erasing mistakes by carefully pulling the needle back through.  Stitching and stick weaving have been big wins in the studio!  I always want to open fibers early, but waiting until the snow flies seems to give kids the quiet of handicrafts they crave.  I hope stitching and sewing catch on outside of the studio- it's fantastic when children tell me about their sewing and knitting projects from home! 

Most of the photos I took of fiber arts have the artists' beaming faces, so I won't share them on the blog.  Here are a few pieces in progress and finished!

December Art Learning Link

Greetings from the Art Studio!

           Students have been busy creating, learning, and sharing in art class.  Our art lesson focus and discussions have been connecting to gratitude, symbolism, and perseverance.  Art takes time, practice, and reflection.  We have been making art to display during winter concerts.  Please be on the lookout for beautiful art when you visit for the shows. 
          When students bring home creations ask them if they are going to continue to work on their projects, display them for a time, or turn them into something new.  Even if artists are finished or have a clear plan expand the conversation with open ended questions and potential ideas- real and imaginary.   “If you wanted to add color what would you do?”  Or “I can imagine your sculpture as big as the dog, or bigger than the door.  If you could make this bigger how large would you go?  How would you do that?”

The month of December fills children with wonder and excitement as our cultures from all over the globe celebrate and share holidays and traditions.  Rehearsals and special programs make our school days extra busy and energy will be running high.  The art studio workshop will have materials and activities available for children to create art from their hearts. 

As we all plan to enjoy our downtime over the holiday season please keep art and making at the forefront of your mind when planning activities for your family!  Making things together, whether arts and crafts, snow forts and sculptures (when it finally snows), or traditional meals creates lasting memories that you and your child will treasure long after they are grown.  Take a break from new toys and electronics in favor of good old crayons, tape, and paper.  Allow your kids to raid the recycling bin and build a castle for your pet (real or plush).  Check your art material stash and see if it needs replenishing with fresh pencils, glue, tape,  scissors and a fresh pack of paper (printer paper is great and affordable).  Tracing paper, hole punches and a stapler can bring your child much joy and hours of focused activity.  Designating a small area, table, or a large cardboard box as an art zone will bring help keep your artists from taking over your entire home too. J

Happy Holidays, Love Ms. B.

Jacobs Pillow Brings Dance to Second Grade

Our energetic second graders have had a wonderful opportunity to delve deeply into folk tails from around the world through movement thanks to an artist residency with our community partner Jacob's Pillow.  Ms. Berle explained the project in this week's letter to families:

Second graders in Mrs. Annand and Mrs. Lupiani's classes danced through the week with our partners from Jacob's Pillow. The focus was to represent Cinderella stories from Ireland and India. All second graders came together to see each other's dances this afternoon. 

In the wrap up discussion, students shared they learned about axial movement and locomotive movement. They learned stage directions and how to move in a group and explore opposites. They learned to work together to tell stories with dance, and it is within them to make dances that show different emotions including funny, greedy, sad and excited. 

A student said about dancing:

In the beginning I was a little scared and then I wasn't that much!

It turns out all the Cinderella stories from around the world share common themes.  Inner beauty is more important than outer beauty, and it is possible to have both.  Kindness matters.

The project ended with Jacob's Pillow education staff member Dawn Lane leading a two minute Shivasana or deep relaxation at students' request.

Here is a link to learn more about Jacob's Pillow:  Jacob's Pillow