Monday Motivations - Dale Chihuly's glass - 25 Nov 2013

Oh how I adore the works of Dale Chihuly.
 

Adore!!

May I list a reason I love my job?

The music teacher in the classroom next to me has lost his voice. 

He is using a text to voice program through his computer to run his classes today.  Complete with background accompanying music, such as the jeopardy theme song when he asks them questions.  It sounds a bit like Yoda. 


I'm laughing so hard at this! 

I love this job.

Friday video link

from Storyline Online

Wednesday Works - Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh. Color mixing with first grade.

Monday Motivations - Andy Warhol - 18 Nov 2013

Andy Warhol Museum

Friday Photos - 15 Nov 2013

Native American Indian Designs with 4th grade

 

We are located on the Susquehanna River in an area rich with history of Native Americans.   It is believed the area where we live was part of the Susquehannock Tribe.   Many people around here find artifacts in the form of arrowheads throughout the islands near the River. 

With this background knowledge, it is easy to introduce a different tribe from the United States.   This time we look at the Anasazi (or the Ancestral Pueblo) Tribe from the four corners area of the Southwest.

While looking at the pottery remains, we identify the design elements we see and begin to create our own versions using stencils and rulers. 

We use a reversal to color shapes that intersect our lines.   Meaning, when a line is colored, the shapes that over lap that line are not colored.  

To add to the knowledge level I posted several options for students to work on after completion.   Level Two (bottom three examples in the photo below) challenges include two different colors and student choice of shapes.   Level Three has a free-for-all of lines, shapes, and colors just to see if they can see the reversals and if they understand the concepts.(Top two examples in the image below)

That's our Wednesday Works this week! 

Friday Photos -9 Nov 2013

Wednesday Works - Molas - 3rd grade

When I used this lesson last year I also introduced analogous color groups.   Since I plan on using a different lesson for my colors later in this year, I let the color choices up to the students this time around.

An introduction of the country and the people where Molas come from (Panama and the San Blas Islands) leads us into the lesson, the fabric examples I have catch the student's interests.  But nothing beats the reactions I get when I start cutting through the layers to reveal just what happens after the second and third pieces are cut.    When they see it, that's when they really see it!

Have a great day!

Monday Motivations - Andy Goldsworthy - 4 Nov 2013

I love Earth Artists.  

Take a look at these works by Andy Goldsworthy