January 15th, 2016

January finds the art room in full mode and the students working on architecture projects.  In grade 1, we used the painting “This is Harlem” by Jacob Lawrence to inspire paper collages of our own towns. To add an interesting finish to the art, students created roadways around the border of the picture using toy cars driven through paint and then glued on their paper cars. Kindergarteners are making blue prints with cardboard, dipped in paint and stamped on blue paper. They are using real architecture plans (donated by a local architectural lawyer) as tablecloths underneath the paintings and inspiration for their plans. In the next class we’ll be using construction crayons to add details and color. Student have been talking about drawbridges, moats, crenels and merlons while drawing castles in grade 2. They’ve even been doing a little 3 d drawing!  In grade 4 we’re drawing minarets, onion domes and reflecting pools as part of learning about Islamic architecture and looking at the Taj Mahal. Students have learned how to use one of our 2 art room light tables to create a reflection in the pool and are using watercolor paints to create a colorful background around the white marble structure. In grade 3 students are building geodesic domes. Both third grade sections have completed rolling over 300 paper tubes each which they will be using to construct a structure large enough for the class to gather in! One point perspective has fifth graders using the vanishing point and drawing amazing cityscapes. They have been using T-squares and using parallel, orthogonal and perpendicular lines to create the illusion of space. Also using one point perspective, grade 6 students are designing their dream bedrooms at the same time they are finishing up their IPad animations. After reviewing the in-progress animations students thoughtfully suggested improvements and we’ve been adding more sound effects. They can’t wait to share the finished film.