Today we learned about our last artist of the year, Keith Haring.  We learned that he loved to paint graffiti in New York and sometimes he even got arrested for it!  We also learned that he liked to paint and draw bodies that looked like they were moving.  We learned about tendons, muscles, and bones and how they all work together.  We also started working on our final STEAM project of the year, an articulated hand (It's my favorite project!)

We have been learning about the art of Alexander Calder.  The STEM concepts we have been discussing are balance, weight, mass, etc.  We created wire mobiles in the style of Alexander Calder to practice our balance.  They turned out beautifully! 

Today we learned about an art process called PRINTMAKING.  We used styrofoam prints of microorganisms to create prints of bacteria, amoebas, and viruses on our art page.  They turned out great! 

Today we learned about a new Japanese artist named, Yayoi Kasuma.  We learned that she LOVED dots!  She painted dots on pumpkins, furniture, and even people!  We also learned that she LOVED colors!  We spent some time adding dots to images in our workbooks.  For our STEAM component, we also learned about amoeba, paramecium, bacteria, and viruses.  We were able to observe some of these microorganisms as they would appear under a microscope.  

Today we learned about Vincent van Gogh and observed some of his paintings.  We read two books about him outside and then students worked in groups to build different designed based off of van Gogh's paintings.  

Today we used our Matisse shapes to create a coral reef sculpture.  We discussed camouflage, predators, and prey.  The sculptures were stunning! At the end of the class, we combined our sculptures to create one large reef.  

Today we reviewed what we learned about Matisse and then started on our coral reef sculptures!  They are going to look STUNNING!  Next week, we'll learn a bit more about coral reefs, especially about camouflage, and we will assemble our sculptures.  

Today we learned about Henri Matisse and his collages.  We also worked on some fine motor skills and cut out Matisse style collage shapes.  Then we collaborated on an art piece in our groups, working on radial and line symmetry. 

Today we learned how to cut a two-dimensionsal shape and fold it to create a three-dimensional shape.  We also discussed what 2D and 3D shapes mean and how they are related.  We even learned how to draw some 3D shapes.  Everyone did a great job with carefully cutting their shapes!  I was very proud.  Next week, we will use our cubes to build a castle in the style of Mary Blair. 

Welcome back!  Today we learned about Disney artist, Mary Blair.  We learned that she LOVED colors.  We then designed two-dimensional cube nets in the style of Mary Blair.  We will use the nets to build cubes and then use the cubes to build a castle, so we'll use math and engineering, as well as art! 

Today we did a fun snowman puzzle and learned about the different designs you can make when you have a perfect square and three other friends! We also played a fun reindeer game where we had to draw a Christmas scene with our eyes closed!  It was pretty funny to see our finished products!

When we return from break, we will be learning about an amazing artist named Mary Blair.  You may recognize her art from the ride It's a Small World at Disney World! 

Today we worked on telling time! Since we learned about Dali last week, we spent our time today making a clock manipulative, completing a puzzle to match clocks to the time, and making a clay sculpture of a melting clock!  Students also took home much of the art projects we have worked on for this semester. 

Today we learned about a new artist, Salvador Dali.  We learned that he was unique and a surrealist.  He had a pet ocelot and once drove his car around with cauliflower in it!  He also had a great moustache!  For our STEAM connection to Dali, we'll be learning how to tell time on an analog clock and since Dali liked melting clocks, we'll make our clocks look "melted" too!  

Today we worked on a collage portrait in the same style as Frieda Khalo.  We also ready a story about Frieda and her Lost Animalitos.  We learned she had monkeys, birds, cats, and deer as pets.  

Today we learned about Frida Kahlo.  We learned that she loved colors, flowers, and animals!  Then we spent some time being botanists and observed flowers.  We were able to dissect flowers to determine the internal parts and elements we labeled in our notebook.  It was a great learning experience!  Next week we will work on Kahlo colleges! 

Today we worked on Andy Warhol art pieces along with flips, slides, and turns.   We have a lot of great art in the hallway.  If you are able, please stop and see it! 

Today we continued to discuss Andy Warhol and his use of bright colors in his pop art!  We even colored some Campbell's soup cans in fun, colorful patterns.  Then we reviewed our mathematical terms of patter, flip, slide, and turn.  Finally, we worked on fine motor skills through tracing, cutting, and gluing!  Our art projects are looking amazing! 

Today we learned about a new artist, Andy Warhol, and how he used bright colors and repetition.  We started working on our art project, which includes flip, slides, and turns!  

Today we continued our learning and observation of Alma Thomas.  We worked on our art pieces and learned about mosaics.  We had some great fine motor practice! 

Today was a VERY fun day!  We did STEAM stations.  Students rotated around the room to four different stations.  Because we have been learning about Alma Thomas, all of our stations had to do with rainbows, lights, and colors.  We added colored vinegar to baking soda, started our art project for Alma Thomas (and learned about geometry and symmetry), watch light reflect and make rainbows on paper, and used magnet tiles to create symmetrical designs.  It was a fun, colorful day! Make sure to stop by our classroom and see some of our STEM art hanging in the hallway! 

Everyone was able to complete their Stella protractor art today and they are STUNNING!  I'm hoping to have them displayed near our classroom very soon!  We also started learning about our new artist, Alma Thomas.  You can view some of her work here: Alma Thomas Virtual Tour.  Alma loved rainbows, so we'll be learning the science of rainbows and light over the next few weeks!

Today we continued to work on our Frank Stella art.  We had a review of angles and everyone did really well!  

Today we had a fabulous day reviewing Frank Stella's art.  Then we added a math component to our art.  We learned about protractors and angles.  Everyone built right, acute, and obtuse angles out of pipecleaners, then we started working on our own protractor art!  These are already looking fabulous and we've only just begun to work on them.  We'll continue to work on them next week!  Your STEM artists are fantastic! 

Today we discussed our first artist, Frank Stella!  We talked the "story" behind his art and how he used protractors to make art.  Next week, we'll discuss the mathematical side of Frank Stella's art, including learning about angles and more about protractors. 

Today we talked about how we can get frustrated when we think we cannot do hard things, and we may feel that way in our class from time to time.  However, we learned that we can try and do our best and not give up!  We read a story by Peter Reynolds called The Dot.   Then we made a mini-book showing off our various, creative dots! 

We had a great first day of class today!  We talked about classroom rules and expectations and everyone did a great job!  I was so proud.  Then, we talked about how we have to be really creative in our class sometimes and we have to think about things in a different way.  I gave everyone a piece of paper with a scribble on it and they had to turn the scribble into a picture!  They did an AMAZING job!  I saw fish, worms, magic potions, castles, an ocean sunset, and so many other truly creative ideas!  After that, we played with some of the free play materials we have available in our class.  I'm excited to see what all this class can do this year!  Thank you so much for being prepared with pencils, crayons/colors, glue, and scissors!