Friday, February 28, 2020

Wellness, Art Teachers and HEARTS - spreading our message KiNdNeSs

Check out this art from first grade. @maclaylowerschool The lesson combined Jim Dine and Peter Max styled hearts. @cathyhicks2014 talked about the differences between the artist styles of hearts and then pull those together into one piece of artwork. While infusing a bit of our #wellness message of #makekindnessthenorm #acornstooaks #maclayvisualarts

Want to learn more about our Wellness Initiative? Follow link below:

https://2soulsisters.blogspot.com/2019/09/acorns-to-oaks-wellness-initiative-and.html

Since this post, we have presented at several conferences on Kindness, Wellness and Empathy. Our Maclay Visual Arts Department is always looking for ways to expand on this within our school community and anyone we come in contact with on a daily basis.

Ok, so Cathy and I joined this group on Facebook called RAKtivist.

‘RAKtivist’ is short for ‘Random Acts of Kindness activist’. Think of RAKtivists like kindness ambassadors—and, like all ambassadors, they’re a part of an active, global community.

RAKtivists are everywhere. The student who stops to hold the door open for a teacher with her hands full? That person is a RAKtivist. The commuter who offers their bus seat to an elderly passenger? That person is a RAKtivist too. The parking attendant who leaves a note on someone’s car, complimenting their parking skills? You guessed it: RAKtivist. Anyone who believes kindness can change the world, who reminds everyone around them how much love there is in the world, who inspires hope and generosity with their actions as much as their words—they’re a RAKtivist. And this is where RAKtivists come together. The world needs more people like you.

Hearts:

9x12 paper

Mixed Media

Watercolor

Paint brushes

Water cups

Paper towels

Oil Pastels

Stay tuned as we continue to work on being better RAKtivist while using our student art to spread the word. Art Education in everywhere!

Thanks, Cathy, for allowing me to share your student Art!

This concept is simple really. We do our job but then we challenge ourselves to thinking as if there was no "box" to see how we can use our final pieces to spread kindness.

Thanks for dropping by 1969

Thursday, February 27, 2020

A Warm Coffee Mug for This Chilly Tallahassee Weather

Ok, so I have this really great 2A Studio Art Class. They took this lesson and ran with it. All of the information below is for you to see how me had a success with this lesson.

How did we make these?

Well, we used low fire clay.

Slab roller

And a YouTube Tutorial
Fired slow 04
*Be sure to wrap in plastic bag to let drying process be slow
Glazed with Stroke n Coat Glaze
Fired on fast 06

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Printmaking and Collage Combo!

So how did this come about? Well, we did printmaking one week. The next week, we did collage. Wa-lah!

Directions:

Make some prints. Make lots of prints. Just for fun! Save the prints.

Next, have kids think about they can incorporate the prints into a collage. Seriously, this is hard! I gave little guidance because I wanted them to create without my brain.

I provided any materials that they wanted.

They all chased rabbits.

They talked to each other about the possibilities.

They got frustrated.

I got frustrated.

I did a lot of encouraging.

But in the end....

I was wowed by these! Great job to my 6th and 8th graders! I am very pleased!

After a somewhat stressful project like this, I had a listen to some Grateful Dead.

1965

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

St. Patrick's Day Art Project

We found a great resource on Teachers Pay Teachers. check it out at the link below:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/St-Patricks-Day-STEM-or-STEAM-Kaleidoscope-Activity-for-Math-and-Art-3640802

Follow Cool Classroom Stuff for other ideas.

St. Patrick's Day STEM or STEAM Kaleidoscope Activity for Math and Art

Product Description

This activity may be set up as a classroom learning center, an activity for early finishers, or as a teacher led lesson illustrating radial symmetry.

Four lightly drawn drawing templates are provided. They are drawn in lightly as to not show through in the students' work. Three have shamrock designs and spacing guidelines to assist the students in starting their designs. One template has spacing guidelines only. This is in case you want the students to create the entire design themselves.

The designs may be created with pen, crayon, or marker.

How did this happen? Well, we have combined classes of 7th and 8th graders. Our 7th grade is currently on their field trip to Washington DC. So, my teacher friend Katie asked me to collaborate. This week on art + math unit just took on a life of its own as you can tell by the photos in this post.