Jamestown First Graders create Monet's Garden with Clay Frogs!

First grade artists have been studying the art and life of Claude Monet! They learned about how he was an impressionist and so his artwork was not clear like a photograph but instead is full of blobs, smears and brushstrokes! We learned about how much Monet loved to paint outside, especially in his garden. 

We read a book about a frog named Phillipe who found safety in Monet's garden and really enjoyed the beauty there.

We painted with blurry blobs like Monet when we painted water on these cardboard pizza rounds!

We learned more about Monet's work by watching the Getting to Know the World's Famous artist video while we worked!

We then used different values of green construction paper to create the lily pads and tissue paper to create the 3D flowers! 

After this was complete, we compared and contrasted two of our art elements: shapes and forms. We enjoyed creating Phillipe the frog out of Model Magic clay!

The final product is being proudly displayed in our library!

Learning Goals:

I can identify the art of Claude Monet and the Impressionists

I can describe the differences between form and shape

I can manipulate clay and create a frog

I can demonstrate a variety of values in my paint and in my lily pads. 

Hudsonville Art Program Kick off!

We are so excited to kick off another great year of art and creativity here in Hudsonville and have been having a blast welcoming back all of our great little artists! We have so many exciting projects planned and look forward to sharing them with our students. Our curriculum is full of experimentation with different materials, learning about historical famous artists (and some contemporary ones), reviewing the art elements and principles of design, and being introduced to our 2015-2016 cultural focus this year: Asian Art!



At Jamestown Elementary, we are kicking off the year with a book called "Only One You!" In addition to great lessons about how we are each unique and about students making good choices, it has some fantastic illustrations!

 

Each student and staff member are working on their contribution to our school-wide mural that is inspired by the book, "Only One You!" It was inspired by this mural:

Learning Goals: 
*Students will review/learn about murals.
*Students will review/learn about the art elements of: line, shape, color, texture, as well as the art principle of pattern.
*Students will work together to assemble the mural.
*Each student will create a unique fish to contribute to the mural.

We look forward to the creativity and unique creations that this year holds!

Jamestown Elementary: 2nd Grade Native American Totem Poles!

2nd Grade artists added to their knowledge of Native American Art and Culture when they looked at why the Pacific Northwest tribes made Totem Poles, how they created them, and what significance totems had to their culture. We had wonderful discussion around a totem pole slide show, sketched some totem pole ideas, read a fiction book about totem poles (Called "Totem Tale"), and created our own 3D (form) totem poles.

Download Native American Overview Slide Show Here

Download Native American Totem Pole Slide Show Here

After discussing the slide show on Native American Totem Poles on the first day, students sketched multiple ideas for their pole. We though about which animals we could tell a story about like the Native Americans did. After they chose their best sketch, we began our own animals for our class pole.

On the second day of our project, we read the book "Totem Tale" and looked at images of totems from the internet and from our other resource books. 

Students were proud to display their fabulous creations in our school library!

Learning Goals:

Students will be able to discuss why Native Americans used Totem Poles

Students will sketch multiple ideas for a totem pole of their own

Students will create their own totem pole

Students will understand the difference between form and shape

Students will practice with their knowledge of warm and neutral colors

Jamestown Elementary: 4th Grade Abstract Kandinsky Murals

4th grade artists studied the abstract art of Wassily Kandinsky. The learned about his life and artwork. They even learned about a strange condition that he had called synesthesia cognate. This condition is one that a person's senses get mixed up and he/she can hear colors and see sounds. Because of this, he would always paint while listening to music. We worked individually to create our own personal abstract artworks while listening to music. We then as a group, worked together to choose a color scheme and combine our smaller works into collaborative large abstract murals!

Reporting from Jamestown Elementary: "What I learned about Self-Portrait Collage!"

Fifth Graders at Jamestown Elementary used canvas boards and various collage materials to create their own self-portait! First, they thought about the proportions of the face and used mirrors to draw themselves. Second, when they colored their drawings, they also practiced with various blending techniques. Third, they chose a theme and color scheme for their collage materials that represented their personality traits and their interests. 

Learning Goals - "I CAN":

*Use analogous colors to create a blended painted background

*Use correct proportions in a self-portrait

*Use blending techniques with color pencils

*Use a variety of materials with a theme and color scheme in mind to express my personality and interests.

We asked some students to REPORT OUT what they learned during this project and this is what they said:

One thing that I learned about during this project is that self-portraits can be a way to express myself - Logan D. 5th grade

One thing that I learned about during this project is how to express myself in my art projects - Emily 5th grade

One thing that I learned about during this project is how to blend colors while painting a canvas. - Rachel 5th grade

One thing that I learned about during this project is how to choose the best colors that blend well together (analogous colors)  - Tyler M. 5th grade

One thing that I learned about during this project was how to draw a good self-portrait - Aiden 5th grade

One thing that I enjoyed about this project was expressing myself - Anthony 5th Grade

Jamestown Elementary: Heather Galler Folk Art Turkeys!

4th graders reviewed their knowledge of the Folk Artist Heather Galler.  We noticed how she used tons of patterns and simple shapes. We created our own Galler style turkeys (inspired by Thanksgiving) and added pattern while thinking about balance and color theories. Finally, we talked about Graphic Design in the world around us and practiced designing lettering for the words "Give Thanks!"

We are THANKFUL for so many things!