off to a hot start.

My goodness. Nothing like a solid week of near triple digits to kick off the school year. The heat has been oppressive. That said the kids have done a great job keeping it together in our fan cooled classrooms. Only a couple have actually melted;)

Despite the heat, the art learning is off to a great start in room 18. This year, like the past couple years, I did a collaborative project with my 3rd, 4th, and 4th graders the first week. I meet with each of the classes for an abbreviated lesson that focuses on unity and variety. Each student contributes a piece that will be included in a larger work of art.

This year we looked at the work of Lea Anderson, an artist and educator who graduated from our own San Diego State. Her work is a great example of unity and variety in work. I love the way she plays with natural shapes and the way she incorporates patterns in these shapes. There is a strong sense of connectedness in her individual pieces and her larger body of work too.

I showed the students a photo from her Imitation Organics series and I had the students identify how she created unity and variety. After this, I asked students to draw and cut out a circle or oval shape from the paper that was at their table. They then had to create at least 2 patterns on it with the color sticks and markers. What the patterns were, and how they were arranged were entirely up to the individual student.

Each day of this project I had students work with a different set of analogous colors- r/y/o, b/g/y, and r/v/b. Next week I plan to have students come down during my additional class size reduction times and  assemble and glue these shapes onto large sheets of white butcher paper that have 4' circles drawn on them. Once all the pieces are glued, we will assemble them on the back wall of the auditorium.

I can not wait to see these installed together. 

We have been putting the pieces together on the floor in the front of the room this week to get an idea of what the installation will look like, but there isn't nearly enough room for all the large circles. We have 6 of them that are about 4' in diameter each.

I'll make sure to post pics of the installation process and final install when it's done next week, so stay tuned:)

On a side note, this is the 300th post I have written. Number 200 was for the beginning of the year project last year. Funny coincidence. I am so glad I have kept this blog going. It's been a great reflection tool for me, a great way to promote the success of our students, and a great way for me to connect with so many amazing art educators in the blogosphere:)

Here's to the next 100!