December Project: Clay Magnets (K) & Clay Pinch Pots (1)

Project Title: CLAY MAGNETS & PINCH POTS

Description:

• Introduction to the origin of clay.  Characteristics of clay were discussed and experienced.  Construction process involved fine motor skills with either cookie cutting and rolling scraps into a ball or pinching and turning our pots.  Subtractions involved the removal of clay as our designs were developed.  A clay record was made to document our work.

Vocabulary:

• Greenware
• Bisqueware
• Kiln
• Evaporation
• Pinch pot construction
• Subtraction (in clay)
• Clay record
• Glaze

Resources:

• When Clay Sings, by Byrd Baylor

Materials:

• Clay
• Vinegar water
• Pencils
• Watercolors/varnish (K)
• Glaze (1)

Examples of Student Work:

November Project: Friendship Fence

Will I Have A Friend?
 by Miriam Cohen

Project Title:  FRIENDSHIP FENCE

Description:

• Kindergarten students worked on a unit based on communities. 
• Communities were defined as a group of people who work, live, problem solve and play together.
• Each student created a portrait of themselves on a fence post.
• Our focus was on placement of facial features and how to draw each.

Vocabulary:

• Self portrait
• Facial features
• Community

Resources:

• Book: Will I Have a Friend? by Miriam Cohen

Materials:

• Paint markers
• Construction paper
• Ribbon
• Buttons

Examples of Student Work:

October Project: Alexander Calder

Featured Artist: ALEXANDER CALDER

Description:

• Used VTS (Visual Thinking Strategy) in the discovery of elements of art evident in a Calder painting.  Students learned Calder used geometric and free form shapes, spirals and loop lines plus primary colors and black/white in his paintings. 
• Twelve authentic Calder pieces were shared from the Westport Permanent Art Collection to inspire students as they completed their work.
• Brief introduction to this famous artist's life

Vocabulary:

• Geometric and free form shapes
• Co-centric rings
• Spirals
• Primary colors - red, yellow, blue
• Alexander Calder
• Opaque

Resources:

• Internet pictures and Utube
• Westport Public Schools Art Collection
• Book: Sandy's Circus, by Tanya Lee Stone

Materials:

• Tracers
• Black sharpies
• Tempera paint

Examples of Student Work:

September Project: Courtyard Art Installation inspired by Andy Goldsworthy

Example of an installation by Andy Goldsworthy

Project title: Andy Goldsworthy Installation

Description: A K-5 collaborative project inspired by the natural art installations of Andy Goldsworthy.  Students learned about installation art and incorporating the environment into their work.  Nature objects were collected: pinecones, shells, stones, etc. and assembled collaboratively as a whole school event.

Vocabulary:

• Installation - Art that is constructed on a site where it is exhibited and incorates materials or physical features of the site.

Resources:

• Powerpoint Presentation Youtube - Andy Goldsworthy Installation,
• Book - Wall At Storm King by Kenneth Baker

Materials: Shells, stones, pinecones, pineneedles, sticks

Photos of installation at work in the SES courtyard:

Back to School: The Dot

The SES Art room kicked off the year with a "Dot" project based on the popular book, The Dot, by Peter Reynolds.

The Dot is the first in a trilogy of books dedicated to creativity. In this story, we meet a girl named Vashti who has convinced herself she can not draw. Her teacher dares her to make a mark. Vashti makes one little dot on her sheet of paper... which turns out to be the beginning of her creative journey!

Teachers around the world have used this book as inspiration for teaching children about expressing themselves through art.  As a result, September 15th has become International Dot Day, when students make their "own mark and see where it goes".  

K-1 students made their own dots and explored the use of expressive lines.  See examples below.