What the year is going to look like....6 grades, 6 themes

SMocKroom
Planting the seeds in an art curriculum

http://plantgreenideas.com/

 I love Chicago.  I really do.   

Aside from the city's incredible history, the contemporary art scene is something to be proud of.  Art lesson inspirations can be found on city neighborhood blocks or down the magnificent mile.  NOW, the question remains...how do I teach my students EVERYTHING?  

 For many years, now, I have been designing the art curriculum for the year based on themes.  In the process, this strategy has proven for providing my students better avenues for connecting their knowledge throughout the year, on a linear scale....they are able to connect the dots.  

 What does that mean??

Well, throughout the year information is presented to my students in a consistent fashion, providing them structure, routine and familiarity.  These elements are important as students begin to think through a broader lens and build on skills throughout the year.  As the teacher, this strategy offers me continuity through structure and flexibility to grow my ideas :)  Fortunately, ideas come very quickly.  Unfortunately, ideas come very quickly. 

Also, as skills are repeated you see more growth.  Aside from art elements and principles, students need to develop their universal skills of study, observation, analysis and evaluation towards building an art literacy base that translates to other areas of study.

FIRST GRADE: THE TOILET HUNT

First graders goal is to find the toilet.  Following Anna's adventure in an art museum, my students meet some of the great artists of our time with one pressing issue....finding the toilet. 

Because, when you gotta go....you gotta go. 

This wonderful book as been an inspiration for my first graders with a unified goal.  As Anna and my students meet the new artists, we stop and learn a little bit more about them. 

Although this is a repeated theme, each year the projects change depending on the educational needs of  my students. 

SECOND GRADE: TARGETING "ME”

It's all about connecting in 2nd grade and understanding their personal relationship to bigger concepts.  In this thematic sequence, student learning targets 7 categories that connect my second graders' experiences.  Starting with "me" and extending to "country", these projects will reflect how each category is connected to the one previous.



THIRD GRADE: ARToGRAPHIA

 

 It's amazing what a little storytelling (and magic) can inspire in young children.  Last year, I introduced my 3rd grade students to two friends who travel around the world, sending back artifacts in suitcases.  Yianna and Helios became part of our classroom and offered my students a connection, something to grasp, while learning about our magnificent world through art.  This year the adventure continues with a group of new 3rd grade students.  Follow as Yianna and Helios guides them in exploration of 7 continents and 7 magical places.
http://artographia.weebly.com/index.html


FOURTH GRADE: CSI-ART

The mysteries of art are always intriguing.  My 4th grade students enter the investigative world, observing, analyzing and evaluating artists who have run a muck in the art world, forge signatures and produce fake masterpieces!  Follow my students as they investigate, explore, create and assess the processes of art and possibly solve a crime or two.

Obviously we needed identification badges....;-)




FIFTH GRADE: ARToLOGY
I was trying to come up with one word that describes what we do in 5th grade art.  The foundation for the year's theme is connecting the past to the present.  As I have been creating and evolving the ideas for the year, I realized the connection is grounded in the human experience with art.  So, I came up with ARToLOGY.  The combination of ART and ANTHROPOLOGY creates: the study of human expression, creative skills and imagination that connects past with present.  My 5th grade student will explore the influential aspects of our history on our lives in the present across time (art time-that is)



SIXTH GRADE: WIMPY 6TH GRADERS

Have you ever noticed the posture of most 6th grade students?  It's absolutely dreadful but a great way to dive into a year about who they are.  Targeting the awkwardness of their age and stage in life, my students will focus on exploring the concept of identity through various projects that encourage them to reflect on their character, personality and their place in this big world.

Phew....I think this is enough.

Follow along as my students take on EVERYTHING.

Now, if only I can figure out why my fonts change spontaneously on this blog.....

xoxo, SMocK you.

Art Room Theme.....A Day With No Crayons

Crayon Poem found on The Hue Studio Blog

Every year, I start the same battle in my head in thinking about a theme for the year.  It's my quirky way of managing any behavior issues that may come up throughout the year.  Fortunately, my students are always awesome.  Just kiddin'---they do have their moments but they far and in between.  I speculate this great phenomena is directly related to my students' lack of time to cause a ruckus.  Schedules are pretty full in the art room. 

I came across this wonderful book about a little girl, Liza, who draws so much that she runs out of paper.  Naturally, she finds a bigger canvas, called the wall:)  I mean who hasn't as a little kid drawn on the wall!  Just like any other kid, in her predicament, her mom is not so keen on her idea of wall drawings and takes her crayons away for the day!

The horror......obviously the story has a happy ending and little Liza realizes her favorite colors are just about everywhere. 

http://www.amazon.com/A-Day-With-No-Crayons/dp/0873589106

Author: Elizabeth Rusch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka6J0XecQKQ

How does this relate to my art room??? 

Students thrive on a structured environment that encourages individuality but, also, lends to a community based setting where everyone feels safe and respected.  This year, I decided to embrace Liza's spirit and encourage my students to draw on the wall (the bulletin board, that is).

I have created a classroom management  system that helps students monitor their own behaviors and the behavior of their peers. The focal point of the art room is the "points" board in which students are remind of the three character traits (Tiger Traits) they are to demonstrate everyday: 
Be Responsible
Be Respectful
Be Safe

The art room has 4 main rules, posted at the bottom of the chart: RESPECT, LISTENING, NOISE LEVEL, and CLEAN UP.  Each day, classes are to keep their 4 points by simply following the rules and avoiding the dreaded red "X".
Throughout the year, each class works as teams to earn 48 points for each trimester for a "treat".  This "treat" is mainly decided by the class.  Usually, I pop in a movie while they are working or offer them a "free draw" day.  Most of the time we are so busy that the students do not mind working through their "treat" day.  

To highlight the successes of students, at the end of each art class I choose a student who has done a great job being responsible, respectful and safe to receive the "Crayon Award".  This lucky student, not only, gets to go home and ask for ice cream,but contributes to the school drawing wall (the bulletin board).

Unlike Liza, my students get to feel the freedom of drawing on a wall and not getting in trouble!
Along with watching a youtube video of the book being read, I found a wonderful poem that expresses how great being a crayon really is.  I hope this will inspire my students to be their best everyday and see their classmates a great "class crayons", while building an art community.

The Crayon Box that Talked
video of the poem by Shan Deolf

As a school team builder, we will all fill the "crayon box" with our favorite color.  It's a small step in creating a classroom atmosphere that affords my students the best learning environment.

xoxo, SMocK you.

Targeting Votes.....

Robert

Delaney

  

This Robert Delaney painting expresses how differences can create unity.  Please take a moment and make a difference. Together we can reach the maximum goal and help students learn best!

Be an inspiration….it is only a click away.

Help  my school reach their goal of 10,000 votes!  Every  vote is 1 dollar.

It takes 5 seconds to pay it forward:)

 https://apps.facebook.com/givewithtarget/school/2887

Thanks!

xoxo, (and a big) SMocK you!