4th Grade and Pre-K Cave Art Collab

Another fabulous collaboration between grades here in our Art Classes!

This time 4th grade helped Pre-K to learn about Cave Art.

We met Pre-K at the courtyard and 4th grade students explained to PK all they've learned about Cave Paintings. A few highlights were how cave man used hand prints in lieu of signatures. There was no written alphabet at the time!

PK had fun drawing and painting and 4th Grade reinforced the concepts they've learned

by teaching others. 

  Also, this is a great exercise on empathy and compassion as 4th graders learn how 

to be role models to their young peers.

Leadership and Kindness in Third Grade

For a few weeks, we had to focus our lessons on the discussion of Empathy and Kindness because of the clash of strong personalities in the class.

We've created a book to discuss Empathy and watched the ClassDojo Empathy videos

Today, I was immensely proud of Ms. Phillips homeroom, because they practiced their kindness while being role models for some of our Pre-K students.

Third grade became the art teachers as they paired up with Pre-K students to teach them about primary and secondary colors.

 Some students explored the software Paint on the computer.

All third-graders embraced their leadership role and guided Pre-K through the entire activity. 

They were patient, kind and very good teachers!

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” ― Mahatma Gandhi.

This class proved the words above to be an absolute truth. There was not a misguided word among themselves the entire period, because they knew that the class was not about them. It was about helping their fellow schoolmates to learn.

I'm proud of what these future citizens of the world have showed me today, and we will continue to exercise kindness and empathy through ART every week!

TAB or Choice Based Art at Sallye B.

This year I'm excited to move towards TAB in our art classroom. 

TAB stands for Teaching for Artistic Behavior and in an art classroom it will mean that students are treated as artists and they will pursue their own artistic interests.

"The real product of art education is not the works of art, but the child." 

A group of 4th graders chose to paint.

This quote by Lois Hetland summarizes a strong believe I have about art education and that's the reason I'll be - albeit slowly - changing my teaching philosophy to TAB. 

Ms. Hetland continues to say: " I think we have to be careful of that trap because you can turn your class into a production factory and then your kids don't develop artistic minds, even though they may be making beautiful work that is hanging in the hall. What I'm really urging here is more autonomy on the part of the student artist–they need to be making the decisions if they're going to make a better mind."  http://www.everyarteverychild.org/assessment/studiohabits.html

With that in mind, we are transitioning to TAB here at Sallye B. art. There still be days where we will work on building skills and techniques or creating collaborative projects as a class. But, hopefully soon, all students will be working on their own artistic endeavors. Digging deep into their artistic intent and expression to develop "better minds."

Another group chose collage

Mr. Seahorse by Eric Carle

Students with special needs from Kindergarten to 3rd grade, created artwork inspired by the book Mr. Seahorse by Eric Carle.

We first read the book.

Then painted a seahorse using watercolors and a background with tempera.

Finally, they glued on seaweed and corals to finish their masterpiece.