Walk Up, Not Out

Every once in awhile as a teacher, you get so excited about something that you can hardly wait to get to school to start a lesson.  Today was one of those days.

For Prayer Day/National Walk-Out Day,  I had one of the 3rd grade classes.  I had seen a post fron another middle school teacher that talked about instead of walking out, you could walk up.....walk up  to someone and say thank you, walk up and sit with someone that is alone, etc....

The 3rd graders job today was to do the following.  They were each given a list of 10 classmates.  They had to write a compliment to each student on a small square of paper.

10 compliments to classmates 

 1 compliment to Ms. Stamps

                           1 compliment to Mrs. Daigle                          

            +  5 random acts of kindness to do today

               17 total good deeds and acts of kindness 

(one for every child lost at the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglass school.  Although we did NOT talk about the school shooting, or gun violence, or the significance of that number). 

Students then walked around the room, placing the compliments in each students small paper bag.  If you could have felt the joy and happiness in this room today.  I wish I could have bottled it.

 Look at these sweet faces as they read all of their compliments.  I can just feel the joy!

We talked about how they felt during this class and how sometimes those that are the angriest are often the saddest and that all we need to do is offer kindness to those around us.  We talked about how everyone values something different and special in each other.  That "Josh" might value "Ben's" laughter and sense of humor, but that "Jill" might value "Ben's"  helping ways.

I have a great feeling that today's task started everyone's day off right.
It sure did mine.
My heart feels happy.
Spread love today. 

4th Grade Chinese New Year Dragons Completed

By far, the process in creating these dragons was the highlight of my year so far.  The students were engaged from start to finish.  To see the previous post on how they created the painted papers for the dragons, go here:  Drawing to Music and Exploring with Paint.

The painted papers were torn into strips and students arranged them around a background paper.  The dragon heads were drawn, outlined in oil pastels (variety of colors), and then watercolored.  These were cut out and attached to the backgrounds.  Fire was made using colored tissue paper.  

I think the final results are SPECTACULAR!  What a way to bring in the Chinese New Year!!   Students learned about Chinese New Year and the symbolism of the dragon in the New Year's celebration.  Hopefully these dragons bring good fortune and good luck into your homes for the upcoming New Year.  

This is a great project to ask your child how they created them.  I guarantee you they will be overjoyed to share with you the process.  I would guess that their favorite part was drawing to music.  I know it was mine, just watching them enjoy the process!

Model Magic Flower Vases

5th graders have been having a blast using model magic to create a variety of 3-dimensional flowers to add to their vases of paper flowers.  It was fun to watch the students find new ways to make flowers and then sharing what the discovered with other students. The students had to add shading to the vases using oil pastels.  They started with a base color and then darkened one side and added white to the other side and then blended the colors together.  

 It is always quiet in the art room when the students get to work with any type of clay.  They are so focused and really enjoy getting to work with 3-dimensional materials.  These will be finished up the week that we return to school.

1st and 2nd Grade Valentine Projects

I had to wait until AFTER Valentine's day to post these pictures as I didn't want to ruin the surprise.  

1st graders have been working so hard on their panda bear Valentine prints.  

Students began by painting red paint on a cookie sheet and then using their finger to draw hearts in the paint.  They placed paper over the paint and pulled the heart prints for their backgrounds

They then made the adorable panda bears and used buttons and fancy papers to create the bow ties/hair bows and then added a pop of glitter to bring out the bear's heart.  

2nd Graders created "I Love You Owls".  They used sharpies and watercolors to create these frame-worthy artworks.  The owls were made out of heart shapes.  Seeing these all hanging in the classroom together was enough to melt my own heart.  

STEAM day

For STEAM day, 5th graders rotated to the Art room to create mathematical skylines.  We watched a video on circles and the number PI and students took notes.  Students then had to make a skyline on graphing paper using the numbers of PI. 

Each table then had to choose a representative to come to the front of the room to participate in a quiz contest.  The winning table won a prize. 

Afterwards students were given two minutes to memorize as many numbers of PI that they could and then we ran outside with chalk and they wrote down what they could remember on the sidewalk.  The student with the most correct numbers won a lollipop...although I should have rewarded them with a slice of pie. 

Creative Compassion Enrichment Update

6th and 7th graders have done so much in such a short period of time! Together they have made over 50 port pillows which will be given to cancer patients.  Port pillows are attached to the seat belt of cancer patients that have a port to prevent rubbing and pulling of the port from the seat belt while they are driving.

WE ARE CABRINI

They have also made about 40 prayer boxes that will be given to cancer patients as well.  Patients can leave these by their bedside to write down any worries and prayers they have.  Friends and family can also leave prayers and words of encouragement for the cancer patient in this small but special box.

 Next week, we will begin making "clinging crosses."  After they are fired, they will be glazed and given to cancer patients with the attached poem (see below).

I am so so proud of all the good that the students are doing for the community through their art.  Using your talents to do go is a trait that I hope they take with them their whole lives. 

2nd Trimester Sketchbook Due Dates (6th-8th grade)

Sketchbook due dates are approaching:

6th grade:  Friday, February 9th, in Art class


7th grade:  Tuesday, February 13th (both groups A and B); will be collected in the morning before 1st period in front of the 7th grade classrooms


8th grade:  Thursday, Feb. 8th (both groups A and B);  will be collected in the morning before 1st period at the 8th grade tables. 

Crayon Making Madness

New crayons have been made for more secret agent prizes!  The last bunch went like hot cakes.  Not only do we have lego crayons but I have also made flowers, bugs, animals, and cars!!

Oh, Valentine...

I can not wait to share the Valentine cuteness going on in the art room but I can't wreck the surprise for the 1st and 2nd graders.  

Here are some cropped sneak peeks to keep you guessing.

Chinese New Year Dragons: 3rd Grade

In preparation for Chinese New Year, 3rd graders are continuing to work on their Chinese New Year Dragons.  The colors and patterns that the students are using are spectacular!!!  We have a few more surprises with this project until they are complete.  We will be cutting these out,  finishing up our firework backgrounds, and putting the finishing touches on them this week!  More pics to come.