April 30, 2013

Random Art Work From the Mayor's Art Show


The images in this post are not from my school.  They are from several other schools who's work was hanging at The Frist when I dropped of my schools art work.  Amazing!!!  





April 29, 2013

testing continues...

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you know that my district is testing right now.  Last week we had 3rd & 4th TCAP testing....this week we are doing SAT 10 with K-2.  In our school...special areas proctor.  Then we have a modified schedule with 40 min. classes instead of hour classes.  They are able to do this by taking away our planning time! 

HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY!!!!!!!!! 
HA HA HA HA

It is what it is though...and we do what we're asked to do!  I'm still thankful for where I teach...and believe it is a GREAT place even if I don't enjoy this part much.

Just curious what you all do during testing times?  

April 26, 2013

Mayor's Art Show Picks

The Mayor's Art Show is kind of a like the District Art Show that I've heard a lot of ya'll talking about (I think?)  We're allowed to pick 2 works from each grade level.  I only selected one 4th grade work this year....poor planning on my part I guess.  I could have sent another St. Basil's inspired work...but I really wanted to show a variety.  I'll post more pictures after the actual opening night.

KINDERGARTEN

1st GRADE


2nd GRADE


3rd GRADE

4th GRADE






April 25, 2013

Bottle Cap Fish


Several weeks ago I sent home a "homework" sheet with my 3rd & 4th graders.  The sheet explained that we'd be creating some bottle cap fish...and I was looking for the best design. To my surprise...over half of the students returned the sheets within the next few days.  A bigger surprise was about 30 of them were AMAZING!  To narrow them down...I looked at how easy it would be to "translate" the drawings into the bottle cap version.  Then I looked for the most unique designs.  I came with these three.  I placed the drawing under my Ladybug...and traced them onto insulation foam using a sharpie.  I then did a quick coat of acrylic paint so the students knew what colors to use.  During class I called up a few tables at a time to work for a couple minutes putting caps onto the fish.  The used craft/tacky glue(knowing it would not go outside).  I love them!!  The one girl really wants to take "her" fish home when I'm done with it.  I told her I didn't know if I'd be "done" with it! ha ha  





April 23, 2013

Goin' Buggie:3rd Grade Pattern Overload Awesomeness


Here are some of the completed works from the project I posted a couple weeks ago. I LOVE THEM!  I'm all about heavy patterns in my own art work....its no wonder I'm lovin' these guys!!!!!  The kids really enjoy trying to outdo each other with the number of patters in their work.  Healthy competition is a good thing!



April 22, 2013

Colossal Coaster World: Crafts Part 1


I shared before that my wife is in charge of VBS at our church this year.  It is a BIG DEAL...because our church about 300...usually sees 500 kids attend our VBS each year!!  My wife left the crafts in my hands.  We can't really afford to by the pre-packaged crafts from Life Way....so I'm tweaking some of the projects they have already...and substituting some of my own.  I thought this would be a fun substitute!!   

*WHAT YOU NEED FOR THIS CRAFT/PROJECT*
9x12 paper as a base
pre-cut strips to create the coaster (probably 10 per child
Elmer's Glue/Craft Glue (I would not suggest stick glue..probably would not hold.)
pre-printed coaster cars with kids in them
markers/crayons to color the coaster cars 
pre-printed bible verse to glue to the base






April 21, 2013

Reduce, Reuse, Re IMAGINE!: 3rd Grade


Collagraph Plate Painted & Print 
I kept the students collagraph plate after they had printed so that they could turn it into a work of art.  I displayed the pieces together.  This was/is challenging.  Not only does it double the number of 3rd grade projects(making it about 240 works of art to hang in 3rd grade)...but also keeping it on the wall!!  The plate was created from cereal boxes.  They want to bow & pop off the wall.  BLAH! The fact that it is humid..and the hall is very warm...doesn't help the wall tack!!!!   I may have to take their projects down sooner than I wanted...because I can't keep picking them up during the day!  






Reduce, Reuse, Re IMAGINE!: 4th Grade


4th Grade's Saint Basil's Cathedral inspired pictures looked WONDERFUL displayed together.  It is interesting because when I was going through and trimming/mounting them...I wasn't as impressed.  
They used construction paper, scrap book paper scraps, magazines, and this strange silver stuff for the creation of the onion domes & towers. 





April 20, 2013

Reduce, Reuse, Re IMAGINE: 2nd Grade


The students loved the milk jug masks.  The parents loved the milk jug masks. Mr. E may never do the milk jug masks again!!!!!!  Ha ha ha   I loved the project...and loved that the kids loved the project so much!!!  However, my room smelling like sour milk, milk jugs EVERYWHERE, and the work of cutting each one down.....not so much!  If I would have not had a student teacher...I'm not sure I would have even attempted this!  They do look great though.....hmmm....maybe.  


Reduce, Reuse, ReIMAGINE: 1st Grade


I know you shouldn't have favorites...but I LOVE this one!!!!

First grade "Birds in a Nest" where a fav among those that attended the art show!  Here the students used construction paper, scraps of fabric, newspaper, crayons, and the painting plates my kindergarten students used to create their "green" for the background of their pictures.