6th Grade String Art

6th Grade also worked on a fiber arts project, theirs focused on string art. Each student worked through a series of geometric designs creating parabolic curves on paper with pencil and marker first. Next, they self-assessed the level of difficulty they felt they were at and selected the design they wanted to sew. I was happily surprised to see so many students sewing for the first time and loving it! The finished projects turned out amazing!

Objective(s)—Students will be able to....

• Create and/or follow a pattern using numbered plotted points.
• Draw straight lines using a ruler to create a geometric line design.
• Create a string art project using the elements of art (line, color, shape, texture, space).
• Identify the difference between the x-axis and the y-axis.
• Explain how a parabolic curve was created in their design.
• Thread a needle.
• Sew with a needle and thread through poster board to create a string art design.

                                     

5th Grade Hanger Weavings

Check out fifth grade's newly finished hanger weavings! They turned out amazing! Also, I think a lot of the kids found they really enjoy weaving more than they expected.

Objective(s)—Students will be able to…

• Identify examples of fiber arts.
• Locate and measure the radius and diameter of a circle.
• Identify and create perpendicular lines.
• Apply the use of weaving terminology loom, warp, weft.
• Tie a basic square knot.
• Create a weaving using various fibrous materials.
• Tie tassels onto a loom (optional).
• Remove a weaving from loom (optional).

:i :h

Local Art Classes

Every school year I am asked by a lot of students and some parents as well if there are options in this area for extra art classes and if so what those options are. I have a piece of paper with a list on it I usually give students but this format allows for me to link to the classes' website. If you check out one of these places and they don't have the type of class you're looking for, the classes seem to change pretty frequently so checking back often is a good idea. Finally, if you know of any art centers or other classes that I don't have listed here that offer good classes for kids, please leave a comment of what I missed. Thank you. :)

1. Norwin Art League
2. Masterpiece Center for the Arts in North Versailles
3. Westmoreland Museum of Art'
4. Greensburg Art Center

 And if you are able to drive to Pittsburgh…..

     5. Pittsburgh Center for the Arts

6th Grade Mandalas

Objective(s)—SWBAT…

• Differentiate between organic and geometric shapes.
• Identify the Principles of Design- Emphasis, Pattern, Balance (symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial ) in their own work.
• Read about the history of Mandalas while also viewing examples of them.
• Create at least 3 sketches in ¼ pie pieces to be duplicated in their Mandala  using both geometric and organic shapes.
• Transfer/trace 1-2 selected designs onto good paper 2-4 times for a whole Mandala design.
• Select a color scheme and neatly color the Mandala design.
• Shade at least 3 shapes in each pie piece correctly.

Here are a few examples of Mandalas in various cultures through history:

 Celtic Mandala

 Christian Mandala (stained glass)

Navajo Mandala

5th Grade 'Tags'- Street Art/ Graffiti Art Name Project

Objective(s)—SWBAT (Students will be able to)…

• Identify the difference between graffiti and murals.
• Explain why/where graffiti is legal and where it is not.
• Locate analogous colors on the color wheel.
• Recognize which elements of art will be used in the tag design.
• Design at least 3 different tag designs using fonts.
• Color the name design neatly using one direction of coloring marks.
• Blend analogous colors on tag design with colored pencils.
• Differentiate between primary, secondary, and intermediate colors.

Fifth graders are wrapping up a project where they created 'tags'. They learned about graffiti as an art form (and had an extensive discussion about how it is typically illegal except for in certain cities walls are designated as legal graffiti walls). We looked at legal graffiti or street art and learned that tags are how artists sign their names in a very artistic way. Students drew sketches in various styles of fonts to see which they liked best or which they felt represented them. They chose one style and drew it larger on good drawing paper.

Next, students learned about analogous colors, chose an analogous color scheme that they liked, learned to blend colors of colored pencils, talked about coloring neatly in one direction, and finally outlined their names with sharpie. Their projects look fantastic. :O

'Tag' example

Library Mural Progress

The mural in the library is going amazingly well! We have 32 students helping to paint it. Half of these students stay one night a week and the other half the other night. We've been working on it for about three weeks now and you can see for yourself we are making great progress!

Also, thank you to everyone that sent in plastic container donations! I really appreciate it! They will all come in handy.

Week 1-3 Pics:

Week 1

Week 1

Week 1

Week 1

Week 2

Week 2

Week 2

Week 2

Week 2

Week 2

Week 3

Week 3

Week 3

Week 3

    

Mural Tryouts- Round 2 & Plastic Container Donations

The second round of mural tryouts have been completed and the students that moved on have already started painting the mural. The second round of tryouts consisted of students painting a section on a wave draw on paper hung in my classroom. For this round the type of paint students used wall paint used in the interior of houses. This is the same paint they'd be using for the actual mural, and it's definitely a bit different to work with. The competition was stiff and partnered with a writing piece where students had to write about why they thought they should be a part of the mural team. We narrowed it down to 32 students for our final team. Here's a picture of the second round tryout wave, it has crazy colors but I kind of love it.

Painting began this week and so far the students are doing a tremendous job! However, we are in great need of plastic containers with lids to store our paint. If anyone has any of these, even one or two, or if you'd be willing to collect some and send them in, we would greatly appreciate it. We are always in need of them in the art room, not just for the mural but other projects as well. I will accept these donations year round! Thanks in advance. Mural painting pictures will follow soon. 

Mural Tryout, Planning

We've completed our first round of mural tryouts. The turn out of students was truly amazing! We had around 300 students in both art rooms tryout for the painting our the wave mural that's going to be completed in the library. It's very hard for us to turn students away from doing something they are obviously excited about, but the wall and space we're working in is only so big. We have narrowed it down to 60 students (30 of Mrs. Teems' and 30 of my students) that will go through Round 2 of the tryouts. After this round, we will narrow it down even further.

I have no idea who the students are who have made it through to Round 2. Round 1 tryouts were done completely blind where each student was assigned a number on their tryout paper. This was immensely helpful in making sure we were fair with who was selected. We based our selections entirely on neatness.

For every single student that was not selected, please do not be discouraged! You are still an amazing artist. I would love to offer every single one of you an opportunity throughout the rest of the year once the mural is completed to participate in one of the other art club projects that we will be doing. One that is most similar to the mural project will be 'Art in the Streets' which is put on by the Norwin Art League. More details will follow about this. We should be starting to work on that project sometime between February and March.

Library Mural

I am so excited to announce we (Mrs. Teems and myself) are going to be starting to select students to paint the soon to be mural in the library. I attached pictures of the drawing on the wall they will be painting. We have been thinking long and hard as to how we can select a small group of students (because the wall space is only so big) to help out and be fair with how we do it. So, after much discussion and consideration we’ve decided to have tryouts. For the first round of tryouts, students will be coming to our rooms during activity period and asked to paint as neat as they possibly can within a series of shapes. This tryout will be judged blindly so no special consideration can be given to any students we may already know. We’re assigning students that try out numbers so on their paper we will only see the number as we are choosing those that make it to round 2. When those students are selected, the numbers will be posted outside of the art rooms on the wall, not the students’ names.

For the second round of try outs, students will be asked to do a similar painting activity but this time on a paper attached to the wall. They will also be asked to write a few sentences explaining why they think they are a good choice for the mural team. The students’ grades and behavior within the classroom will also be considered when narrowing down students for our final group. Once students have been selected, after round 2 is completed, permission slips will be sent home with them to stay after school and work with us in the library on either a Tuesday or a Thursday until 5pm.

Again, both Mrs. Teems and I wish that we could have everyone interested be a part of this. However, although it’s not possible for this project, we will be doing other art club activities throughout the year, during activity period and after school, that will be open to ALL students, no tryouts required. If you have any questions regarding the mural please feel free to contact me.  mbrown@norwinsd.org. 

Student Teacher in 126- Miss Kisner

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

My name is Jennifer Kisner and I am a Post-Graduate, Student Teacher from Saint Vincent College. I graduated this past May with my Bachelors in Fine Arts and am currently pursuing my certification in K-12 Art Education. Over the next 8 weeks I will be with Miss Brown, not only assisting her in teaching but also developing and teaching my own set of lessons.

Art is a way to express creativity and individuality. It is a way to relax; to put thoughts and emotions on paper in more than just words. It is hard to compare myself to other artists or to call myself an artist in general. I do not know which medium I prefer over the rest, but what I do know is the feeling I get whenever my work is in front of me. I enjoy working with my hands to discover new ways to express myself whenever I cannot finds the words to do so.

My dedication lies within the pride I take in my own artwork.  I know that the effort I put in to my work represents the person I am. I love taking the time to solve problems within my own artwork because at an upper level, that is what art is all about. Being able to take colors, textures and materials and turn them into a masterpiece. Once I become an educator it is my goal to instill these ideas into every student I have the opportunity to inspire.

During this time I would like to encourage you to motivate your child to keep up with his/her classroom projects and assignments. Feel free to encourage your students to attend activity periods in the art room to finish artwork that they are behind on or that they may have missed. With your constant encouragement at home, your child will be a success in my classroom!

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to email me at jen.kisner@email.stvincent.edu.

                                                                                            Sincerely,

                                                  Jennifer Kisner

Color Mixing Warm-Up: Handprints

For a warm-up to painting color wheels, a way to get students messy on their second day of class, and to familiarize them with the procedures of the art room we started with mixing colors on our hands! Fifth grade students worked on collaborative color wheels at their tables printing primary color and mixing and print secondary colors. Sixth graders printed primary, secondary, and intermediate colors on a large paper in the hallway. This was a new lesson we've never done before and was Miss Panaia's (Mrs. Teem's student teacher) great idea. Thanks Miss Panaia, we loved it!

Start of the 2014-2015 School Year

Hello Hillcrest parents and students! I would like to introduce myself to you all. My name is Molli Brown and I am one of the two art teachers at Hillcrest.

I am incredibly excited to share my knowledge and love of art in the classroom. Both fifth and sixth grades will be making a wide variety of projects incorporating various concepts they are learning in their other classes and more. We will also be taking a look at and making art from a historical and cultural perspective using a variety of media.

I will be using this blog as a means to communicate different things I might need the students to bring in over the course of the year so make sure to keep an eye out. I would recommend subscribing to the blog so you can get an email notification every time I create a post. You can do that by clicking on this symbolwhich is located near the top right of the page.

Again this year, all fifth and sixth grade students are required to bring in a folder for class. The folders do not need to be anything fancy, just as long as they have two pockets on the inside. Please, NO binders. The folders can be any color or pattern; they just need to bring them to art class for 10 points toward their grade. They will be given the first two cycles to bring one in.

I will be attending the 5th grade open house on Wednesday, September 3rd. If you’d like to see the art room, please feel free to stop down and check it out. I hope to meet a lot of the parents of the wonderful students I’ve already met.

I’m looking forward to a fantastic year!

-Miss Brown