I have recently witnessed the best painting by second grade students that I have ever seen. Boy, we have some talented students here at Thomas! I have done a ceramic insect project for the last couple of years. Kids love bugs, so this year I added an introduction project for the clay bugs. After learning about body segments (head, thorax & abdomen), exoskeletons, insects, and arachnids, each student used books to research and draw their favorite bug. We then drew and painted habitats for the bug. The habitats are drawn very large in order to show the bugs in the correct scale. The really cool part of the project came next. The kids all drew their bugs on a piece of tag board. Once they were colored and cut out, they were able to attach them to the habitat painting using 3D O's. 3D O's are small pieces of foam with adhesive on each side. It makes the bugs pop right off of the background. This was the first time I've used that product, and it was a huge it.
3rd grade just finished a project that incorporated science into the art room. We learned about the six different kinds of simple machines. They include the wedge, inclined plane, pulley, screw, lever, and wheel and axel. After studying the fantastic machines by artist Rube Goldberg, students designed a complex machine using multiple simple machines. Their machines do something that usually happens inside their heads. After finishing the artwork, students each wrote an explanation of their machine that is hanging below the finished art. This project is currently hanging in the hallway by the art room.
5th Grade recently finished a project based in graphic design. I was asked to have students submit designs to potentially be on the cover of the yearbook this year. Students worked in groups and were given the open ended assignment of creating a yearbook using whatever materials they thought were appropriate. The winning submission was done by Nari J, Sara P, and Tori B.
