Fantastic Tots on Tour!

Today's Tots on Tour class goes down as one of my very favorites. And let me tell you, I needed it to be! I've been so happy to be back to school and seeing my elementary students but like the majority of teachers, I've been exhausted!!! 

September presents so many tasks to organize and new systems to learn. 

As I drove up 295 this morning it was beyond foggy. As I entered Hamilton, the sun took over and the rest of the day was  energy packed, creative and fun.

Today's focus was Monet and water lilies. After reading a great book "Where's the Frog" and taking a nice walk over to the Japanese Bridge, we created clay water lily pads and flowers. I created this lesson so simply and am excited to modify it for different ages. 

There's something about those first clay projects that melts my heart. Each year when I blog about pinch pots with first graders, it's the same thing. Being able to facilitate art experiences for young people that are meaningful and rewarding is what I love. Today was such a great day because the excitement and energy and precious moments that my two Tots groups expressed reminded me of everything important as an Arts Educator.

 

Grade 4: Clay Castles

Clay castles are a project that we haven't been able to do each year due to time constraints, but I am happy that I could add this project in this year for my 4th graders (4B, 4V, 4M).

Below are a few pictures that I took on Monday. The school schedule has been so irregular recently, I am amazed we got this project in and it feels as though some classes took ages to complete it due to so many missed days!

We began by viewing a slideshow that detailed parts of a castle and using the iPads to look at different types of castles and their towers. Next was to create a sketch to follow. 

We discussed different methods of handbuilding in clay and students chose the best method for themselves. 

I really love the details that many students put on their castles.

Grade 3: Chinese Dragons

This picture is why I love being a teacher... And this one too...

I began blogging several years ago as a means of communicating our days in the art room with Bear Tavern families but found comfort in talking about projects just as much. There's SO much going on related to education right now but these pictures are my goal for each day. Despite paperwork and meetings and this and that... it's these smiles that keep me alive. I guess any mom reading those knows exactly what I mean and on a higher level of thought that we share. We do what we need to do for our children's smiles. 

If you have stopped by the room in the patsy few weeks, you know that we have major sculptural projects going on with 8 classes. I accidentally slipped and told my 3rd graders we would be creating clay dragons for Chinese New Year. Well, they have perfect memories for anything clay. So, although a neater, 2D project would have been easier, I couldn't go back on my word. So, out came the clay. And the rest became a magical moment. 

We tend to talk a lot and all sorts of conversations can come up while creating art but the conversation about our dragons as we created them were incredible. By the time class was over, the ownership of these dragons was through the roof and we had a clear idea of the personality of each dragon, storylines, fantasy thinking about where the dragons came from and where they are headed... When they say "get lost in your art" we definitely were there today 200%.

The process was an easy one. Begin with a body and let your imagination go wild! Some kids had wings, others had powerful tails. We added scales for texture on most but it was up to each artist to determine what their dragon needed. 

(Love the idea for spikes on this guy... They will have to be added back in after bisque firing in the kiln)

The kids are doing a writing piece with their homeroom teacher about their dragons. I can't wait to read them.

Hope you're all having a great week. Happy Chinese New Year!

Grade 2: Clay Hearts

We found some time to make a little Valentine's Day gift this year. Here are some sweet clay textured hearts that my second graders made. 

Ok, so as a mom, these pictures just hit a very sentimental button!

The hearts were made out of clay, fired and decorated with color. 

A string or magnet was added to the back.

Teen Studio= Best Night Ev

Last week began my first Teen Studio class.... it was a perfect mix of art making, laughter, candy, good conversation and reminiscing. We spent an hour and a half together creating slab lanterns and sculptural roses. I honestly couldn't tell you which project was more fun- they balanced each other so well. 

It was great working with current students and catching up with students I've had in school before. I enjoyed the special quality of seeing my girlz outside of school and in the beautiful studio space at The Painter's Loft Studio. 

Till Next week!

Grade 5: Red Clay Spoons

Discussing functional art and texture, my 5th graders made these cool looking spoons today using red clay.

I love hand-building in clay because it serves as a reminder of just how powerful our hands are as a tool. 

I began the demo by showing the students how to create the bowl of the spoon and techniques for shaping/smoothing the inside. This was the most challenging part and I was interested to see how each student made this part their own. Next was creating and properly securing the handle which had to have a texture on it. It was neat seeing how my students created such unique spoon handles and added some really awesome characteristics to the handle and positioning of it. We poked a hole at the top of the spoon handle so that we can add a pretty ribbon to them when complete. 

Next week we will explore some beautiful glazes that I've been waiting to pull of the shelf.

Fun Day!

Grade 1: Pinch Pots

Every year in first grade we create a simple pinch pot. Sometimes I couple the lesson with a holiday (Diyas from India or other types of candle holders) and sometimes I make the lesson part of a larger clay unit. Whichever direction we go, this is a project and experience that I cherish as much as my first graders do. Symbolically, teaching my students how to create a pinch pot reminds me of the journey of art-making that we will go on together for hopefully 5 full years.
Using their hands a primary tool, they shape and smooth the clay into a functional container. Motherhood has influenced so much of who I am as an art educator and on this project, I purposely do not require my students to smooth out the ridges where their fingers pressed and shaped the clay. I view these marks as adding character and creating a statement of "the beginning" and youth. As a mom, those little fingers grooves are so special and I prefer them to a perfectly smoothed pot.
If you are interested, feel free to look at previous posts about pinch pots. For this years post, I would like to share just two photographs. My hand underneath those of a student named Anna who is holding three pinch pots. Our hands together represent my influence and support in the art room. The other is just a photo of a few pinch pots.

Grade 4: Moments I Cherish

It's that time of year when kids miss school due to illnesses. When they come back to school, they most always have catch-up work to complete. When they miss art, they miss a whole lot... a weeks worth in one day.

Last week, as my 4th graders in Mr. Belford's class moved on with their clay coil containers, I had a few students who were absent the week prior.
I had half of the class continuing to build into their coils and the other half that had finished and were ready to glaze their bisque pieces. My absent students needed me to explain the lesson but I had to distribute glaze colors to half of the class first.
So, I asked each of the students who needed a demonstration to ask a friend who had clay out to demonstrate for me until I was done with the glazes.

Well, lets just say that my 4th grade "teachers" did more than amazing job demonstrating. As I eavesdropped, the language used was accurate, it was caring, it was patient. Of course I grabbed my camera,

I went over to meet with the students who had missed my instruction and realized that there was not much more that I could add in to secure the concepts and understanding of how to build a coil container in a creative way.

It is those moments like those that I cherish. Life feels perfect when I see education at its best in moments that show me that my students can pass along information in this manner.

5th Grade Art Enrichment: Ceramic Lamps

Student working. Those hands are such an amazing tool!

We are nearing completion on our ceramic lamps that we have been working on in Art Enrichment. The kids have started to glaze their lamps and they are looking so vibrant and beautiful. I gave my students the challenge of creating a lamp base using clay coils. Some left the coils exposed for decorative purposes, others smoothed the coils out. We will wire our functional lamps so that they light up properly. The kids have been working so happily hard...I know they are creating a piece of art that they will cherish.
Below are pictures of our works in progress. Wait until you see the finished results!

Slowing down the drying

All so beautiful and different

Trying out the lamp shade for sizing 

Grade 2: Clay Leaves

If we could have stayed outside and played in the leaves, it would not have felt like a lost day. To start class off for 2nd grade, we went outside with the mission of finding the largest leaf that we could, plus two others. 

The sun felt so good and the colors on the school property right now are out of a book. 

After we searched for leaves and brought them back into the art room, we took clay imprints of our autumn colored treasures.

What a perfectly colored shirt 

Grade 1: Clay love

In life, the simple things are sometimes the most beautiful, meaningful and profound..
I love clay. Starting our adventures in clay always begins in first grade with a simple little pinch pot.
To get those hands on their very own piece of clay is one of the best moments in first grade each year. As they realize that their hands can build something special and beautiful. As they bring home their little pinch pot that has marks from their 6 and 7 year old fingers. They are making a piece of art no parent could ever muster the strength to throw away.
That little pinch pot. Holds coins and moms rings and whatever else.
We started pinch pots this week in first grade. It's a great week.

Grade 2: Clay Nests and Animals

The joys of clay. The kids love it, I love it. It's the perfect material in so many ways over here at Bear Tavern School!

My second graders are working on clay nests and an animal to go inside. It's a fun project to review the pinch method of handbuilding ceramics and the proper way to secure pieces of clay.
Their imaginations were in full force with this project and they all did a fantastic job.

Estelle's (2L) is relaxing and holding a mini cell phone

Henry's (2L) was built really well

I love the pose on this one by Aldo (2L)

Next up is glazing their creations and then they will have to decide to take them home or leave them at school for the 50th Anniversary Art Show.