Standing Room Only

     Last Thursday, we had our first ever "Standing Room Only" event for our Suffield families.  It was an open house type of event where families were invited into their children's classrooms to see some of the amazing work they've done this school year.  We also had a fundraiser for technology where we auctioned off wooden chairs that each classroom had painted.  The 4th and 5th graders also made self-designed artworks (mentioned in my art critique post) that we displayed in donated picture frames.  The students were able to buy their framed masterpiece for $5.  This was such a positive event and we were so happy with the results!

I Ain't Gonna Paint No More Silhouettes

My wonderful friend Mrs. Peterson came up with this lesson when she used to teach at Brimfield.  Be sure to check out her blog at her new home with middle school art at Perry Local Schools.

Before starting these life-sized artworks, we read I Ain't Gonna Paint No More by Karen Beaumont and illustrated by David Catrow.  In the book, a little boy, who is told by his mother to stop painting the insides of the house, covers himself in paint; from head to toe.  The kids love the story and then have an absolute blast tracing each other on kraft roll paper.  We used crayola Slick Stix to draw patterns all over the sillhouettes and then used Biggie Cakes to paint the patterns.  We had to get creative with our classroom space, but most of the kids really enjoyed working on the floor!

Art Critique: 5th Grade Style

     With my limited amount of time with students, I often struggle to find time to slow down enough to have critiques with the students, as opposed to mainly focusing on production.  It is so important though, for students to learn to think about, assess, question, and explore the ideas behind artmaking, so I am trying to squeeze in critique discussions as much as I can! 

     In fifth grade this week, we had simple 5 minute partner critiques.  I was so happy with how they went that I thought I would make a quick post about them.  So here's how we did it:

     They are working on an independent choice artwork.  They played "art teacher" and designed their own projects in terms of subject matter and media.  I had them partner up with the student with students from another table and discuss these things:

1.  Tell your partner about your in-progress work.  Do not tell them your plans for completion.

2.  What is the best thing about your partners work?  Why?

3.  How would you complete their work?  Why?

     I was so happy with how well the students did with this.  They really seemed to take their conversations seriously and were very thoughtful in their consideration as to whether or not to take their partners' suggestions about their artwork.  To keep this critique to only 5 minutes, I timed them to spend 1 minute on the first promt and then 2 minutes each on the next 2 questions. 

     In the photos, you'll see that each student has a large manila paper (their planning/experimenting paper) and a much smaller white paper.  These smaller papers will got in to donated picture frames for an upcoming fund raiser.  More on that later!

Suffield's Arcade: A School Wide Creative Experience



     After seeing the short films about Cain's Arcade, our principal, Mrs. Bookman was inspired to have a cardboard/recycle arcade here at Suffield.  Our students were challenged to design and create arcade games completely made from repurposed cardboard, empty containers, or any other materials that would normally be thrown away.  The students could make the game on their own, with their families, or with a friend.

     It was so much fun to see the kids hauling their creations into the school today on what doesn't LOOK like the last day before spring break (due to the snow)! 

    Once the games were all inside and set up in the gym, the kids came down one grade level at a time to play in our arcade.  The kids had a blast and were so proud of their own games.  Today was a fun and exciting day for an art teacher!  I am proud of all of our students' and their families' efforts to invent and create.  I loved this school-wide creative experience and hope we can do more!