Auction update....My son's class....

This is just one of the many GEMS at the Murch Auction this year.....This is the one I helped with for my son's classroom. Each child created a bird and helped glue on the tile-like colored paper on the canvas. The style is very mosaic-like and is very fun to look at.

If you want me to advertise your auction art gift on the blog too, just e-mail me with a picture and a quick description. See you all at the Auction!!!

All great projects begin with simple sketches----2nd grade begin in-depth printmaking unit

Children in 2nd grade are in the process of beginning an in-depth unit in printmaking. The end product will be a professionally printed book that uses their print-made images of birds to skip count, which is a skill they are working on in their own classrooms. I will be posting these drawings in the next few days because they are simply stunning drawings. Rich with detail and incredibly well proportioned for this age group. In class we talk about what skills are higher level skills in drawing. Detailing would certainly bring a drawing to a much higher skill level.

In my lessons in drawing I focus heavily on the use of simply combined shapes to create images. It's so simple and it does not require memorization of any drawing "recipes". The knowledge itself that shapes come together to create more intricate details is itself the gem.....and the kids take this information and run with it each time. Come back in a few days to check out those drawings....

Pre-k Classes use recycled items to create their own Louise Nevelson creations

Children in Pre-k were shown some images of the work of Louise Nevelson in preparation for their next unit in sculpture and construction.

Children were told that Ms. Nevelson made choices about where she put her pieces to create her abstract art.

Thanks to the parents' donation of small items Ms. Cutelis was able to offer a wide variety of nick knacks for children to choose from.

Children were then given a meat tray (also donated by Murch families) and were expected to try out various arrangements or "compositions". After a few minutes of composing, Ms. Cutelis poured a substantial amount of glue on the tray and children were to place their favored items on the tray in whatever composition they chose.

Children enjoyed this activity tremendously. It allowed them to ask themselves what they liked or not liked instead of seeking for external validation from the teacher on what was "right" or "wrong". The following week children will paint their abstract work in one color as a way to unify everyone's work for display.

2nd Grade Final Products- People in MOTION!!!

Children in 2nd grade just finished a sculpture unit in which they created people in motion. They began by creating drawings of each other in movement and using those drawings to create wire sculptures. These wire sculptures were covered with modeling clay and then paper mached, painted and "dressed" them with either paint of cloth. Details such as hair was also added. Children are extremely proud of their creations!

Box Animals- K

Children in K are beginning a construction unit in which they use boxes to create simple 4-legged animals. Parent donations of boxes of all sizes and toilet paper/paper towel tubes are need in order to have all 3 Kindergarten classes complete this project. Children will later mache, paint and add hair to their animals. This is a 5-class project. Keep checking for updates and pictures!