Around the Corner for 5th Graders

After we finish designing our posters with a message about "Get Up and Move!" the kids will be doing a movie-making unit which will involve many aspects, two of them being flipbooks and claymation.

In trying to explore this media further I found a slew of videos on YouTube with claymation. I posted some of the most appropriate ones below.

On that note, I will be needing to borrow tripods from parents for this unit. If you have any you'd like to share with the 3 classes, please contact me?

1st Graders learn about realistic drawing

For our painting unit we will be making stylistic paintings of animals inspired by Aztec representation of animals. To begin we started with realistic drawings of animals. I explained to the kids that shapes are found everywhere, even in animals. I also taught them about using "details" such as fur, whiskers, feathers, claws, eyes, nose, etc are what makes the drawing even more realistic. They were so proud of their drawings that they wanted to take them home right away. They need the drawings to inform their paintings next week.

5th Graders Design Fonts for their Posters

5th graders are learning about font design. As a class we explored various different fonts, like the ones you see above. Then set out to create our own by coming up with 2 "rules" and following these rules through each letter of our names. We then began to look at possible uses for these various designs and learned that each have a different personality and could be used for a very different purpose. These ideas will come into use when creating our posters next week and children will have to use a font and a composition that is congruent with the sport or movement they chose to advertise.

Pre-K sculptures on Display in the Hall of Flags

Pre-K sculptures are on display in the Hall of Flags at Murch......Note: if your child's sculpture is not on display the sculpture is not yet painted due to absenteeism. They are so fun!!!

Face painting at the Fall Fair!!! (OCTOBER 24TH)

For the fall fair I've volunteered to do face painting but I have no prior knowledge about this at all.....so of course, I went on you tube and sure enough there were tons of tutorials. I thought it would be fun for the kids to see some of these....very fun to watch the transformations. Hope to see you all at the Fall Fair!!!

Calling ALL Sketchers!!!!

1. Are you in grades 3 to 5 and you spend hours drawing or painting in a sketchbook?

2. Have you had a sketchbook for some time ?

3. Do you have one or several sketchbooks full of your work?

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If your answer is YES to all 3 questions above, I would love to meet you!!

I am doing a feature for the Mustang Express at the end of the month on sketchbooks and kids who use them daily (outside of school). Bring your filled out sketchbooks or at LEAST TEN samples of your work to me during your regular art time. I will set up a time to meet with you and ask you some questions. The objective of this feature would then be to encourage others to use a sketchbook as tool for self-expression, self-esteem building and skills building.

Thank you!!!

I have had an amazing amount of support this past week from parents coming in to volunteer. I've had some classes already set up volunteer sign-up systems and send in parent assistants and it's made a huge difference in the amount of work we're able to do in class and in the quality of work the kids can produce. There is no possible way I could possibly thank each one individually without risking leaving someone out. But, just know I very much appreciate all your support in the art studio. Whether it's helping a child to thread a needle, washing brushes or put out displays, I appreciate every single one of your efforts and time.

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Calling ALL Artists!!- National Zoo Poster Contest

A Murch Parent, Mary Kay Zuravleff, Just sent me information about this zoo poster contest. You can also go here. for more information. I will also see which classes want to do this contest as part of their next unit of study.

Design a Poster for the Zoo!

Kids ages eight to 14—grab your crayons and markers and create a poster for the Smithsonian’s National Zoo! Your poster could be displayed at the Zoo as well as area schools and libraries. Plus, you could win ZooLights tickets and other special prizes.

Flamingos, frogs, and ferrets… all FREE to see!

The National Zoo, home to 2,000 fascinating animals from all over the world, is a national and local treasure. We have a huge park with endangered wildlife, naturalistic exhibits, and beautiful gardens. We’re working hard to educate our visitors about conservation, and to help save endangered species in the wild. But many people don’t know they can visit the Zoo for free!

Your Poster

We need your help to tell people that the Zoo is always free. Design a poster that shows:

• the Zoo is a wonderful place to see animals, trees, and plants,
• does a lot to save wildlife,
• and is always FREE.

Explore our website to learn about our 2,000 animal residents and all the conservation work we do.

Enter today! Complete the entry form and attach it to your drawing, or enter online. Make
sure we receive your entry by November 12, 2009. See complete instructions, judging criteria, and rules below.

How to Enter

1. Find an 8.5 x 11” (minimum) or 11” x 17” (maximum) sheet of paper.
2. Design your poster artwork to include animals and plants found at the National Zoo, along with a message that the National Zoo is free. You may also emphasize the Zoo’s leadership in animal care, science, and conservation, and recommend a visit to the Zoo! Be sure your poster is colorful and special. All mediums will be accepted and you may use any materials you wish to create the design, including paint, pencils, photos, crayons, and markers.
3. If entering by mail, complete the entry form and attach it to your poster design.
4. Entries must be received by November 12, 2009. You may scan your entry and submit it online, or place your entry in an envelope marked “FONZ Poster Contest” and drop it off at the Zoo’s Visitor Center desk between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. or mail your entry to:
   
   FONZ Poster Contest
   P.O. Box 37012, MRC 5516
   Washington, DC 20013-7012

What You Could Win

The grand prize package includes:

• Six tickets to Opening Night of ZooLights on December 4
• Recognition from National Zoo officials and a public unveiling of your winning poster
• Winning poster printed and displayed at the National Zoo, and sent to libraries and schools in our region
• Winning poster featured on the National Zoo website and in Smithsonian Zoogoer magazine
• National Zoo-themed gift basket

Rules

TO ENTER: Children ages eight to 14 may enter. Complete the entry form and send it, along with your drawing, to the address above, either by mail or online, or drop it off at the Zoo’s Visitor Center during the hours indicated above. Entries will be accepted by mail, online, or in person beginning October 1, 2009, and no later than November 12, 2009. Multiple entries will be accepted. FONZ and contest sponsors are not responsible for lost or misdirected entries. Children of employees of the National Zoo, FONZ, and contest sponsors, and members of their immediate families, are not eligible to win. No entry fee or purchase is required. Open to legal residents of the 50 states and District of Columbia. Void where prohibited. Contest entries will be judged by National Zoo, FONZ, and sponsor representatives around the week of November 16, 2009. Contest will be judged based on creativity, appeal, and clarity of message(s). Chance of winning depends upon the number of entries received.

The winning design will be printed as a poster to be displayed at the National Zoo. The winning poster will also be sent to area schools and libraries. The winning poster will be the property of FONZ and the National Zoo.

The winner will be notified by phone and/or email on or around November 20, 2009. The winner will receive six tickets to the Opening Night of ZooLights, which will take place on December 4, 2009. Winner and guests will be responsible for transportation to the National Zoo for the Opening Night ceremony; transportation will not be provided. The winner will be honored at the ZooLights Opening Night ceremony and the winning poster will be unveiled to the public and press. The winner will also receive an exclusive National Zoo gift basket. The winning poster will be featured in an issue of Smithsonian Zoogoer magazine, and on the National Zoo website. Prizes are subject to change. No cash substitutions. Taxes on winning prize(s) are the sole responsibility of the winner and not contest sponsors. The winner and his/her family may be interviewed by the press and photos of the winning child and/or family will be taken at the National Zoo. Photos associated with the contest are the property of FONZ and the National Zoo.

BELOW IS A GALLERY OF ZOO POSTERS

FOUND ON GOOGLE IMAGE SEARCH.

(THESE IMAGES BELOW ARE NOT CREATED BY MURCH STUDENTS)