This is the blog for the Waitsfield Elementary School Art Program in Waitsfield Vermont. This site is maintained by Nora McDonough. It contains photographs and information about past and current art projects completed at all levels, K-6.
Kindergarten Artists explored the wonderful world of Color Mixing today in Art Class! We examined the Color Wheel and discussed how we can mix the three PRIMARY COLORS to form all of the other colors on the Color Wheel.
We mixed colors using eye droppers and colored water. Then Kindergarteners gave their new color creations creative names, like "turquoise blurquoise."
After observing the color mixing process with the colored water, we painted squares using Red, Yellow and Blue liquid watercolors. Once again, Kindergarten artists observed the Primary colors mixing to form new colors.
We have had quite an adventure in Cardboard Land over the past few weeks during our Global Cardboard Challenge!
Please click HERE to fill out your Cardboard Challenge Reflection!
Please work alone on this, even if you worked with a partner or group during the Cardboard Challenge. Mrs. McDonough is the only person who will view your response.
The Global Cardboard Challenge is an annual event presented by the Imagination Foundation, which celebrates children’s creativity and the role that communities can play in fostering it. This event was inspired by the short film “Caine’s Arcade,” a story of a young boy’s cardboard creations. This project encourages kids to collaborate, innovate and think outside the box. Click here to learn more about the importance of creativity.
Here's a slideshow of our Waitsfield School Cardboard Challenge!
Any art teacher will tell you that Chalk Pastels vs. Young Artists can be a tough match! However, with some careful modeling, monitoring and let-it-go-ing, this colorful dust storm can be turned into beautiful artwork!
Kindergarten artists used Elmer's glue to trace a spiderweb design on black paper. After it dried, they used chalk pastels to fill in each closed shape created by the glue.
Of course we started this lesson by reading Miss Spider's Tea Party by David Kirk.
Elephant, snake and bird live in a beautiful jungle. Then someone starts
cutting down trees and soon their home is destroyed. This book uses colorful, whimsical illustrations to make kids think about the effects of deforestation.
Artists in grades K-4 read "Where is the Elephant," by Barroux and discussed the author's message. Then we used Sharpie markers and liquid watercolor paint to create many different types of trees inspired by the illustrations in the book. To inspire our tree paintings we went outdoors to observe our surroundings and used the inspiration guide below. This reminds us that there is no "right way" to draw a tree. Our bulletin board also features a hiding elephant, snake and parrot, just like the book.
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.
