Freedom Quilts

We are in the process of making Freedom Quilts for Black History Month. It is a group project we are doing in  fourth and fifth grade. The groups each have their own family of slaves that they must make a quilt for. They all have different routes to follow to the North and must figure out which codes are needed to help their specific family. This one is the first one finished and today I hung it up in our town library as a part the local Black History Month display. We used scrap book paper to acheieve the fabric look.

P.S. Say a prayer for all of us Texas teachers (and Texas students)...if you haven't heard, the whole state is looking at massive education budget cuts. They will let go of 1000 Dallas school district employees next school year. I don't work for that school district but in a smaller Dallas suburb district.

Mondrian Inspired Trees

Where did I get this idea from???? I saw it on someone's blog and have looked and looked but can't find whose it was! If you know please tell me so I can give them credit.

This is a lesson I did with fourth grade and fifth grade. (I have a few classes with a mix of fourth and fifth graders, so now I teach the same lessons to both grades.) We talked about Piet Mondrian's Tree paintings, and the symbolism trees meant to him. We painted the trees with black tempera paint, and used liquid watercolors for the background. The blog I got this from used oil pastels I believe. I made a few examples to test what media I liked best for the tree, oil pastels, black glue but I like the way the tempera best.

***I got this idea from Marcia at Vivid Layers!!

Snowman Portraits

I did these snowman with my Kindergarten kiddos. I found the lesson on a website somewhere last year but I can't remember where.  Anyhow we talked about portraits, and their own school portraits. We talked about different facial expressions, different items they could wear. I especially like the anrgy looking snowman becaue he's different. I have more pictures that I may post later. Some used manilla paper and some used blue construction paper (which I liked better), drew two white circles, added the details, colored in the snowmen white and then painted over the whole paper with blue watercolors. I really like them!

Winter Mural

I know many of us were inspired by the Winter Mural posted by Art With Mr. E, and I want to say to him Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!

Not only was it a wonderful idea, it also solved my "Program Problem" that I previously blogged about. Here it is in it's entirety. I also added snowflakes on the curtain because it looked a little empty around it. I made three panels of the winter scenes and then put them together. PreK- 5th worked on it. It is 3 ft. x 10 ft. 10 in. in size.

Right Panel

Middle Panel

Left Panel

Here it is all put together. Itt's a little blurry sorry, I hope Santa brings me a better camera for Christmas!

Mouse Paint, Pre-K and a close encounter!!!

So.....today when I had Pre-K, we were reviewing the book Mouse Paint that we read it last week.  We learned about primary colors, and made some marble paintings with the three colors. During the discussion, one of my student says, "A Mouse!" So I am thinking that she is talking about the book. Then they all start screaming and pointing, and sure enough there is a real life mouse running around my room. Needless to say, we all went to the gym and played duck duck goose for the rest of the period! I left all the paint out on the table, but the mouse didn't play in it like in the book.....because of the art teacher.

Dia del los Muertos Celebration!

Today my lovely children, my wonderful librarian friend, her son, and I went to the Dia del los Muertos Celebration at the Latino Cultural Center in Dallas. It was awesome. We made skulls, watched Aztecas dancers, visited altars created by local artists and my favorite~ ate some elote (corn) in a cup!

The Dog on the Playground

This is not art related but it is school related (kinda)...

About a month ago, there was a cute little black dog on the playground. I just happened to pass by since I was on my way to talk to my friend , the technology teacher (shout out megaroni!) Anyway I see this cute jet black dog wandering on the playground. I went out and got her to follow me around the back of the building to my classroom, where I got her some water. Some of the other teachers told me she has been hanging out on the playground looking for kids to play with. They said she usually has a collar. So, instead of letting the other teachers call animal control on her I took her around the neighborhood and left flyers and knocked on doors. I just knew someone was missing this sweet little dog, she looked healthy and well taken care of. I saw some big kids getting off the bus and asked if they knew who she belonged to. They pointed out a house and I went and knocked, no answer. I left a flyer, expecting a call that night. The next day, there was still no call so I took her out of town with me (and my kids) to see my mom for her birthday.

Finally,the next day a woman called describing the dog and told us "Coco" was her teenage son's dog and kept getting out of the yard.  She also explained how her son wasn't taking very good care of her and not paying much attention to her. (I know how I was at that age, friends were top priority.) So I told her that my kids were falling for her and we could keep her.  She said no because she knew her son wanted to keep her.  I told her I would call her when I came back to town to bring her back.  To make a long story short..when we came back she said he son decided that we might be able to give her more time and attention. So she's OUR Coco now! We love her!