"Mannequin Challenge"

Students are not supposed to have iPods or phones out at recess. However, after telling a student to put his device away, I realized that nearly the entire fifth and sixth grade group was working collaboratively on something called the "Mannequin Challenge." (Click here to learn more!)  I quickly gathered that the goal was to create a video of people staying as still as mannequins while life continues around them.  I allowed them to continue their project and film several takes and I captured this video of their Mannequin Challenge. 

#mannequinchallenge at #recess at #waitsfieldschool

A video posted by Nora (@artclass_allday) on Nov 18, 2016 at 10:27am PST

For another version of the Mannequin Challenge, check this out! (Make sure you watch all the way to the end.)

Dot Day Mural Time Lapse Video

Dot Day!

Students at all levels will be celebrating Dot Week during the week of September 12th in Art Class and Library/Technology.  This special event is based on the book “The Dot,” by Peter Reynolds. It is a story that encourages artists to “just make a mark.”

International Dot Day, a global celebration of creativity, courage and collaboration, began when teacher Terry Shay introduced his classroom to Peter H. Reynolds’ book The Dot on September 15, 2009.
The Dot is the story of a caring teacher who dares a doubting student to trust in her own abilities by being brave enough to “make her mark”.

What begins with a small dot on a piece of paper becomes a breakthrough in confidence and courage, igniting a journey of self-discovery and sharing, which has gone on to inspire countless children and adults around the globe.

And each year on International Dot Day – with the help of people just like you –the inspiration continues. What started as a story in the pages of a book is transforming teaching and learning around the world as people of all ages re-discover the power and potential of creativity in all they do.
(From www.thedotclub.org)

We also used the Quiver app on the iPads to turn our dots three dimensional.

Kandinsky Concentric Circles and Collaborative Murals

First and second graders are studying abstract artist Wassily Kandinsky.  They are each creating a colorful concentric circle in the style of Kandinsky's most famous painting, Squares with Concentric Circles. They are also working collaboratively on murals in Kandinsky's style.  Kandinsky has synesthesia, which means that when he heard music, he saw colors and heard music when he painted. As first and second graders worked on these murals, we listened to music and considered how different colors make us feel. 

Click here to learn more about Kandinsky and synesthesia.

 

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#collaborative #mural inspired by #kandinsky by #Waitsfieldschool #gradesoneandtwo

A photo posted by Nora (@artclass_allday) on Feb 9, 2016 at 10:50am PST

#collaborative #mural inspired by #kandinsky by #Waitsfieldschool #gradesoneandtwo

A photo posted by Nora (@artclass_allday) on Feb 9, 2016 at 10:47am PST

Trees inspired by Rebecca Rebouche and Gustav Klimt

When I discovered the contemporary artist Rebecca Rebouche, I knew I would have to teach a lesson based on her work.  Her "Tree Series" paintings drew me in because of the balance of simplicity and detail and the obvious playfulness she enjoys in the process.

My art students love drawing trees and some even believe that they know How To Draw a Tree, as if there is just one right way to do it.  Here is where I introduce another favorite artist, Gustav Klimt, with his painting "Tree of Life."  In looking at this intricate, swirly, gold-tinted tree, we see that the possibilities are endless. 

Although Rebecca Rebouche and Gustav Klimt lived 100 years apart, when we compare their work we can see some similarities. 

Third and fourth graders looked at Rebouche's "Tree Series" paintings and Klimt's "Tree of Life" painting.  In addition to the symbolic meaning of the trees themselves, both artists included other objects in the branches of their trees to represent things that are important to them. Click here to learn more about the symbols in Klimt's "Tree of Life."

We often start the year by drawing or painting self-portrait.  This year we breezed through this with our Monochromatic Self Portraits.  In planning the self-portrait process, I wanted students to focus on what truly makes them special and unique.  Rather than trying to, once again, help students show this in a traditional head and shoulders self-portrait, I decided to take a more abstract approach.  These tree drawings by grades three and four are a type of self portrait. 

Can you guess the students who created them based on what they chose to include in the branches?

Watch these beautiful videos to see Rebecca Rebouche at work and see how she draws inspiration from the natural world.