Category Archives: Grade 4

Distance Learning: How to manage time?

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Art: Distance Learning 

Dear Parents,

I am posting this here, in order to avoid the need to post it on daily slides every week. Thank you. 

The 20 minute time allocated for art is the minimum requirement. As this is little time, please know that any art activity started on the first lesson of the week, can carry over to the last one. Students may use two art times to work on one piece. In fact I would encourage this. The nature of our art program means that students are free to work at their own rate – some will use all the allocated time on one piece of work.  Some will do several things in one week. 

They should upload to Seesaw on the second art lesson of the week. 

The majority of our  AAS students really do love art and will want to spend more time. If this is your child, I recommend that you save art to be the last activity for the day, so that they may spend as much time as they like (with your permission of course) on being creative.

Thank you for your attention,

Helen Arnold

All Grades: Distance Learning & Rainbow Art

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Examples of First Grade Rainbow Art 

A quick thank you for the support you are providing students with Distance Learning. A very large number of artists have been actively engaged. This is great to see. Let the motivation continue! Grades 1,2,3 have submitted some wonderful Rainbow art this week, demonstrating a great variety of creativity and approaches to the idea of bringing light and love to our community through their art. This idea has been inspired by a current trend in the UK and some parts of the USA where children are posting Rainbows in their windows. See here for news article. Grades 4 and 5 will be asked to contribute next week (Deadline will be Friday 10 April), after they have completed their transdisciplinary work (Unit of Inquiry related Art). We hope to put these together, to form one large community artwork (or slide show) for our end year ‘virtual’ closing ceremony. Therefore, good clear photos, with no text boxes are encouraged for this work. Stay home, stay safe, and keep on being creative!

Grades Two to Four: W.O.W

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This Cycle, Grades 2-4 have begun thinking about a new W.O.W piece. It was quite amusing yesterday as Second Grade entered the room and saw the above slide on the Smart Board, and one student exclaimed “WOW! Wait…. but we already did a WOW piece!” Yes, and it is time to start another, and another and another, until we reach Grade 12 and beyond! As students become increasingly familiar with this, and thinking/behaving like artists, they will work at different rates, and make this move, more independently.

Now that we are in our second semester of our choice based program it is great to see students increasingly independent in their understanding  of our essential questions “What do artists do?” and “Where do ideas come from?” During the first semester, the focus was very much on self management of the environment (our studio) and time. Organisation has been the key. In order to simply allow them to gain confidence, those who wanted, were allowed to copy from images. This semester we are focusing more on the word ‘original’ in ‘wonderful original work of art – WOW’. Some may still feel the need, and this is ok – however students now encounter questions of “where is the creativity?” , “What are YOU bringing to this work?” and/or “Why/How is this important to you?” as a means of making that closer, personal connection to their art.

As the year has progressed, planning documents have grown, as students now have access to four stations, ie. Art Forms: Drawing, Painting, Collage and Printmaking. Students are encouraged to think about which is their favourite art form – one which they feel most passionate about, and incorporate this, into their ‘WOW’ piece. Fourth grades are taking things a step further by considering combining two art forms, or two skills, which they will later be expected to discuss in their artist’s statement.

We look forward to the results of our second round of WOW projects. (Example of Planning Document below).

 

First to Fourth Grade: Skill Builders, Printmaking & Reflection/Evaluation

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A choice based system most certainly does not mean full time free choice. Of course there must be room for specific skill building and learning of new techniques, which students can then apply to their choice based art later.

Since the start of the new year, Grades 1-4 have been involved in some ‘have to’ lessons (otherwise known as Skill Builders), through the introduction of our Printmaking Station. Emphasis has been placed on organisation of workspace, the actual process of various printmaking techniques, and self evaluation and reflection. Printmaking techniques have been planned to allow progression throughout the grade levels.

First Grade: Fingerprinting, Sponge Dot Printing (after observation and critique of pointillism and work of George Seurat), and Printmaking with Found Objects

Second Grade: Styrofoam Prints with washable markers

Third Grade: Styrofoam Prints with washable markers, and basic reduction print with ink (single color/layer)

Fourth Grade: Mono prints, and reduction prints with ink – two colors/layers

Students are encouraged to keep ALL pieces, no matter how ‘bad’ they may turn out. Bad prints are good! Not only will students be able to demonstrate the progression of their skill, they can also use these to discuss their evaluation of the quality of the print, reflect on problems which may be occuring and seek solutions to these, or strategies for improvement.

Ongoing reflection and evaluation should take place through self talk and discussions with peers and the teacher. Thus students are becoming increasingly familiar with discussing their process, inclusive of art specific vocabulary.

Due to lack of time, students are not required to write or record reflections/evaluations on Seesaw daily. Simply uploading a photo of stages of the work, at the end of the lesson is enough to gain a habit of documenting.

In a few weeks students will complete a ‘W.O.W’ piece of art (as a reminder please click on the following link)

First, Second, Fourth and Fifth Grade: W.O.W 

which was posted on 21st November 2019. This will require a more indepth, written or spoken reflection on Seesaw.

Speak to your child about his/her printmaking experience. We hope they can freely discuss their process inclusive of art vocabulary such as ‘found objects, printing plate, printing ink, brayer, sponge, styrofoam…’ according to grade level.

Please enjoy some photos below taken during Printmaking Classes, Grades 1-4.

All Grades: Art Shirts (to be worn over uniform)

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We are very excited to announce the arrival of our brand new, art shirts, designed for ES Artists! They are of course supplied to protect student clothes from art materials (as best possible).

However, the design is especially important, as it reinforces the student’s sense of identity, as an artist, and our ongoing mantra “You are the artist, and this is your studio“. We have choices of blue, green, red and yellow. Yes! Color is very important!

All students are expected to wear them over their clothes during art. The majority of students gladly accept this. However there are just one or two who do not want to wear them. Students will be highly encouraged, but not pushed, to wear the art shirts.

Please enjoy these fun photos of the first set of students to wear our very cool art shirts!

All Grades: Wonderful Original Works of Art: Happy New Year!

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Welcome back to school and Happy New Year! We hope you had an enjoyable and restful holiday. For those who have not been able to visit school, and view our very large exhibition, both in the ES Lobby, and also upstairs, outside the Art Studio, we have a Youtube Video, which shares much of it. Just before the break, some classes had the opportunity to view all, and document their favorites on Seesaw.

For any new families, welcome! And please see below the video, the notice which was sent out in our ES Newsletter in December, which reviews the first semester of our Choice Based Art Program. Enjoy!

This Semester ES Art Students have been introduced to a different approach to art education. Choice Based Art and Teaching for Artistic Behaviours (TAB) places the student at the centre of everything, allowing for greater agency and personalised learning. Through a choice based approach, and continuing to apply the mantra “You are the artist, and this is your studio”, we believe all students will be more invested, engaged and inspired, as this will appeal even more so, to their natural curiosity and personal interests. Through allowing choice, and providing more of a ‘workshop’ environment, students can work at their own pace, and with increased independence, whilst still meeting curricular objectives. 
 
Throughout the year, we shall focus on the understanding, or Central Idea, that ‘Artists practise a series of behaviours, which lead them through a process, resulting in an art work which conveys personal meaning to them’. We will continue to ask ourselves “What do artists do?” and “Where do ideas come from?”
This semester, students have focused on developing their sense of ownership over their artistic experience and environment by practising exploration of materials and tools, organisation of workspace, and the generation of ideas.  Students are entirely responsible for thoughtfully planning for, and selecting materials and tools in order to initiate exploration/experimentation, observational and/or imaginative work. Emphasis is also placed on the documentation of achievements, via Seesaw. All pieces are kept, as they provide opportunity for reflection, and are valuable evidence of process.
 
As we work through the transition to a full choice based program, students are beginning to become familiar with the Studio Habits of Mind (http://www.pz.harvard.edu/projects/the-studio-thinking-project) which can be directly linked to the National Core Art Standards, PYP learning outcomes and Learner Profile. These are early days, and the depth of exposure and understanding, is dependent on individuals and Grade level. The Studio Habits of Mind can be found at the foot of this notice.
To end the Semester, students have been busy producing a W.O.W piece of art. Please view our ES bulletin boards which are currently being adorned with Wonderful Original Works of Art. A W.O.W art work is one which students have committed two to three lessons to, one which they have carefully thought through, planned, gathered feedback, perfected and persevered until the end. With such personal investment in these pieces, students are experiencing a sense of pride in their efforts and learning process. Please take time to enjoy our W.O.W Gallery and subscribe to the ES Art Blog in order to follow our journey through Choice Based Art, in the new year.
                                      Studio Habits of Mind & PYP Attributes
Develop Craft: Learning to use tools, materials, artistic conventions, and learning to care for tools, materials and space (PYP Caring and Knowledgeable)
Envision: Learning to picture mentally, what cannot be directly observed, and imagine possible next steps in making a piece (PYP Inquirer)
Express: Learning to create works that convey an idea, a feeling, or a personal meaning (PYP Communicator)
Stretch & Explore: Learning to reach beyond one’s capacities, to explore playfully without a preconceived plan, and to embrace the opportunity to learn from mistakes (PYP Risk Taker)
Observe: Learning to attend to visual contexts more closely than ordinary ‘looking’ requires, and thereby to see things that otherwise might not be seen (PYP Inquirer)
Reflect: Learning to think and talk with others about an aspect of one’s work or working process, and learning to judge one’s own work and working process, and the work of others (PYP Reflective)
Engage & Persist: Learning to embrace problems of relevance within the art world/or of personal importance, to develop focus conducive to working and persevering at tasks (PYP Open Minded)
Understand (Arts) Community: Learning to interact as an artist with other artists (i.e. in classrooms, in local arts organizations, and across the art field)

All Grades: Parent Conference 28 November 2019

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Parent Conference: Thursday 28 November 2019

Unless specifically requested, appointments are not made beforehand. The large studio (3006) will be open for students who choose to show their parents the room and their portfolio. If students choose to bring parents to the art room, they are expected to discuss, as well as show their work. They should be speaking to you about topics along the lines of – from where I found my inspiration, new discoveries, and the process of creating it, reflections on successes, lessons learned from mistakes, the current stage of their work, and how they envision it when finished.

If you specifically would like to meet with me, please email me before 8 am Thursday. Alternatively, write your name on the waiting list which will be posted in the room (3006). It shall be a matter of first come first served. Please be respectful that others may be waiting, and therefore keep to a ten minute meeting approx. All parents/students are welcome to enter the room, even if there appears to be a parent conference taking place at the time. For any more confidential discussions, we have the small room next door, available to us.

W.O.W – Stage Two

Below are some photos of First (1DE) and Fourth Graders (4SC) working on the second stage of their W.O.W artwork (see previous blog post), thinking about quality, gathering feedback, and working on ways improve and perfect a work to completion. Also, with the aim of meeting a deadline – the end of our next art lesson. Demonstrating stamina to engage and persist when challenges are met, are being practised by all.

 

AAS 70th Anniversary Artwork

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You may have noticed three large paintings (1.5m square, each), recently hung near to the ES Office. Sofiya Shiyan (Class of 2020) led Grade 4-5 students, and some Grade 9 student assistants, in creating this artwork to mark the 70th Anniversary of AAS.

The three colors represent our three divisions – Elementary, Middle, and High School. The variety of shades/tints and shapes represent the 60+ nationalities of students, who attend AAS. Please enjoy the photos below, of student involvement in this permanent artwork.

AAS Moscow, October 2019

Respect – Integrity – Courage – Curiosity – Care

First, Second, Fourth and Fifth Grade: W.O.W

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Grades 1,2,4 and 5 have started work on their W.O.W artwork. AAS Artists will tell you, that W.O.W, stands for Wonderful Original Work of Art.

After weeks of practising studio navigation, setting up their work space, exploration of various media, ways to research and generate ideas, artists are ready to demonstrate what they know and can do, by creating a final piece which they would feel proud to display in a public space. 

The criteria for the W.O.W piece, is as follows:

  • I have thought about it for a while and made a plan
  • I spent at least three lessons on it
  • I have fixed, improved, perfected it
  • It looks ready to hang on the wall
  • It might have been frustrating to create but I stuck with it!
  • I have shown it to others for feedback
  • It has enough personal meaning for me to write about it in an artist statement
  • It came from my heart
  • I found satisfaction and interest in creating it
  • It happened through experimentation in the studio

The above criteria is expected to be fully met by Grades 4 and 5, and lower grades are specifically working on the ability to engage and persist with an idea, and work to refine a piece, to a point of completion, over a number of lessons.

We have three full lessons before the December break, so the timing is perfect. A wide variety of artworks are emerging as students make choices about subject matter, format, and art form. (Current options are painting, drawing, and collage only)

Watch this space!

 

The Beauty of Choice Based Art

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A choice based program allows students to home into specific personal interests, and take control of their own learning. This in turn, is a great motivator and generally there is 100% engagement happening in ‘Our Studio’. As students are becoming familiar with ways in which they can navigate the environment, many are arriving with preconceived ideas regarding how they wish to spend their time. The teacher can then guide and facilitate this, expose them to possibilities, new art vocabulary, and further assist students in making personal connections to the art world.

Example: For weeks on end Jaden’s choice as been to draw buildings. Every week they look the same. Noticing this repeated behaviour, it was suggested that he try something new. “But I LOVE drawing buildings” says Jaden. He explains his personal connection to a specific city, which is well known for it’s stunning architecture and we began to find images to take a closer look at details. Jaden learned that artists can create ‘cityscapes’.

We then embarked on some brief research into the artist Stephen Wiltshire

Artist traits such as closely observing, engaging, and perseverance was discussed and with this Jaden has discovered a greater determination for detail, working up until the last minute of art class. I’m personally hoping this personal connection may spur Jaden’s interest in finding new art forms in which to express his ideas, as the school year continues. We currently have Drawing, Painting and Collage stations open now. Slowly construction and printmaking shall emerge in the second semester.  

Please enjoy this short video about the fascinating story for Stephen Wiltshire. Many, more lengthy documentaries, can be found on Youtube.