Welcome

Welcome to the JRB art blog! If you are a parent, I hope seeing what we are creating in class will help you discuss your child's artwork with them!
If you are another art teacher, feedback is welcome! Whoever you are, please leave a comment!

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Square 1 Art Update

Hello Briggs Family!

By now you should have received your Square 1 Art order forms. The orders are due November 20th. Your orders will be delivered to the school by December 14th, in plenty of time for the holidays! Remember, if we have 45% participation, we will get a bonus!

Thank you so much in advance for your support of our school!

Mrs. DiSalle

Here is the online ordering information for you:

TWO WAYS TO ORDER
1. ORDER ONLINE at www.square1art.com/shop
Type the website above in your internet browser on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Create an account using the unique access code located on the top of your FREE Stickers. Preview your child's art on products and purchase gifts. Look for the order deadline also located on the top of your child's free stickers.

2. PAPER ORDER FORM
Should you not be able to order online please complete the paper order form enclosed in your order packet.
Square 1 Art is a wonderful fundraiser that celebrates your child’s artwork along with helping our school. A special thank you to all of the teachers and parent volunteers for their help creating this artwork with their students. We couldn’t have done it without you!
Questions? Contact Square 1 Art Customer Care at 888.332.3294

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Kindergarten: LINE

Here is a peek at the Kindegarten's study of line. Ask your child to sing you the LINE song! Students have also been practicing with scissors and glue;don't be afraid to practive at home, too!
 











Falling for Foreshortening

Fifth graders have finished their line projects focused on extreme perspective.
 
 
 There were some very exciting results!
 



 


 
 


3rd Grade Contour Line

The third grade has finished learning about the concept of contour line, or the outline of an object. In order to understand this idea, they have completed the following two projects:

 
Students especially enjoyed the process of drawing the process of eating a fruit!
 







 
 

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

October Newsletter


Happy Fall!

 
I cannot believe that Cycle 1 of art is over, and we are on to Cycle 2! We have completed the artwork for the Square 1 Art Fundraiser, so you can expect to receive order forms and Squickers at the beginning of November. Your participation in the fundraiser is crucial to the art supply budget. Thank you so much for your prior support, and I hope you are looking forward to seeing your what your child has created this year! Remember — 45% or more participation earns us a bonus!

In addition to finishing up Square 1 Art, students in grades 1-5 will begin a new lesson focusing on the concept of line. This is Massachusetts Visual Arts Curriculum Framework 2.2, “For line, explore the use of line in 2D and 3D works. Identify a wide variety of types of lines in the environment and in artwork.”  Each grade level will explore the concept of line differently.       


GRADE 5:
Students will build on what they learned last year about the concept of perspective, or creating a 3D image on a 2D surface. Students will practice extreme perspective by learning about foreshortening through two different projects; in the first project they will be looking down at an object, in the second they will look up.

GRADE 4:
Students will be learning about 1-point perspective through the design of a “deep space” picture focusing on depth. They will also learn how to use a horizon line and vanishing point to make two-dimensional shapes into three-dimensional forms.

GRADE 3:
The concept of contour line, or the outline around an object, will be studied by third graders. We will read Harold & the Purple Crayon  and design a new setting for Harold. Students will also explore contour line through an observational drawing of a fruit as it is eaten.

GRADE 2:
Movement through line is the focus of second grade’s line projects. They will study the   artist Keith Haring and learn about gesture drawing. Students will also learn about       illuminated (decorated) letters and create their own.

GRADE 1:
First graders will learn how line shows direction through the study of the terms    vertical, horizontal, and diagonal. Students will complete two different projects to help them master this concept.

KINDERGARTEN students are learning the ropes of the art room and practicing using tools. They have studied scissors and cutting and are now moving on to glue. In the next weeks they will begin their study of line as well.

Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to help out in the art room. In the next weeks I will be emailing a schedule. I look forward to meeting all of my new volunteers!

STAY CREATIVE & WELL! :)



Saturday, September 15, 2012

Volunteers

Thank you to everyone who has returned their volunteer forms! I hope to organize volunteers within the next week, so if you are interested and haven't sent in your form, please do so by the end of the week! Mrs. Davis and I are very much looking forward to working with you!

Thank you!

WISH of the WEEK

Hello Briggs Family!

Each week I will be posting 5 items from the ART ROOM WISH LIST for you to bring in if you have them. Here are this week's FUNTABULOUS FIVE:
 
  • wood scraps
  • medium sticks (Y shaped branches would be very useful!)
  • dowels of various sizes
  • bubble wrap
  • old CDs
Thank you!

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Art Class Wish List

Just as I did last year, I am providing a wish list of reusable materials for use on projects throughout the year. Feel free to send in items piecemeal, or in large clusters. When sending in items such as bottle caps or plastic containers, please wash them first. As always, your help and support are greatly appreciated!
 
Needed items:
bottle caps (various sizes and colors, but no metal, please)
coffee cans
buttons
ribbon
spools
wood scraps
small sticks (Y shaped branches would be very useful!)
dowels of various sizes
popsicle sticks
address labels
plastic berry baskets
bubble wrap
corks
large cardboard tubes
old CDs
coffee filters
cotton balls
cotton swabs
large yogurt or sour cream containers
masking/duct tape (empty rolls as well)
baby food jars
lids from frozen juice cans (these are not sharp like tin cans)
old puzzles
sandpaper
sponges
styrofoam
small toys (no larger than 1" x 2")
newspaper
styrofoam
 
Items not needed at this time:
paper towel/t.p. rolls
cardboard boxes
egg cartons
cloth scraps
yarn
 
 
 
I will update this list regularly as our needs change. Because people were so generous last year, there are some items which I do not have room for at this time. However, this may change as items are consumed.
 
 
Thanks again! :)
 
 

Square 1 Art

I wanted to let everyone know that we will be starting the year off with our Square 1 Art fundraiser this year. Students will be able to choose their own design and materials this year (within the limitations set by Square 1), so tell your kiddos to start planning out their design. I will show the students examples of previous work, and ideas sent by Square 1 on the first day of class. Also, you may visit the Square 1 website at http://www.square1art.com/ for inspiration! Have fun planning!

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

We're Baaaaacccckkkk!

 
Well, today was the teachers' first day back and it went great. I have to say that the latte did help!
 I hope everyone is getting ready for early bedtimes and early mornings!
Only 2 weekdays left until we get to see your sunshiney faces! (Don't forget the latte! LOL!) 

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Getting Ready!

There will be a few changes in the art room this year. For instance, check out these decorations I made!


Looking forward to seeing your smiling faces soon!

Monday, June 4, 2012

Fine Arts and Technology Night

Hope to see you all at Fine Arts and Technology Night on Thursday night! Artwork will be open for viewing at 4PM!

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

A Reminder and a Word of Thanks

Hello Everyone!

Just a couple of things...

First, I want to remind everyone to bring in a piece of artwork for the art show by Friday. I want to be sure that everyone is represented and no one is left out, which is why I sent home a reminder. I made every effort to collect art from everyone thoughout the year, but it was challenging! Thank you for your help and understanding. Next year I plan to keep a folder for every student so that they may choose their own work for the show later in the year.

Secondly, I want to thank everyone who sent in their green survey. I really enjoyed reading through all of the responses. It was also helpful to learn about aspects parents and students didn't feel were the most successful, and those that were thoroughly enjoyed. This year has certainly been a learning experience for me! I will be making changes and adjustments next year to further improve the way the art program runs. Although summer may be a time of relaxation, it will also be a time to reflect and plan for the coming year.

As I hope you have all gathered, I am very passionate about what I do. Your support and input are greatly appreciated!

Hope to see you all on June 7th!!!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

May/June Newsletter


ART ROOM NEWS
In art we are ending the year with an exploration of texture! The Massachusetts Arts  Curriculum Frameworks states that, For texture, explore the use of textures in 2D and 3D works. Identify a wide variety of types of textures, for example, smooth, rough, and bumpy, in the environment and in artwork.   Create representations of textures in drawings, paintings, rubbings, or relief.” Students at all levels will be creating art focused on this understanding.

The kindergarten classes will begin to study texture by completing texture rubbings. After reading the book Birdsongs by Betsy Franco and Steve Jenkins, they will use the texture rubbings to create a collaged bird image. Students will also do rubbings of their initials created from yarn. Lastly, toward the beginning of June, they will explore some Native American art and early cave paintings. Then, they will create masks from paper.

First graders will be studying texture by creating pinch pots and using stamps to add texture. Students will also do a variety of rubbings,  including an outside texture hunt. Some students may also have a chance to create texture through fingerprint designs.

The second grade students will be learning about the texture created by using coils to create a pot. Second graders will also create texture rubbing  collages.

Third graders will be using the paper clay Sculptamold to create sun masks. Students will learn about the popularity of sun imagery historically in art. They will focus on texture through adding various designs to the sun base.

Native American animal masks will be the inspiration for fourth grade mask design. Students will use molds to create an animal mask base out of Sculptamold, and then add textural designs.

Fifth graders will continue working in the 3rd  dimension as they finish their exploration into clay. They will complete their textured clay houses  during the time before and after Nature’s Classroom.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE
It is absolutely unbelievable to me that I am merely weeks away from completing my first year here at J.R. Briggs. It has been such an amazing year for me, one where I feel I have truly found my place in the world.

I want to thank the entire JRB community for all of the help, support, and understanding you have offered to me. I have LOVED working with all of the children in this building. Seeing their smiling faces everyday, accepting hugs and high fives, watching their eyes light up as they learn something new — this is really what it’s all about.

My fellow staff members have been inspirational and guiding in so many ways as well. You should really feel blessed to have such a wonderful staff who loves your children and who are deeply committed to their learning. They are inspirational to me.

Lastly, to all of the parents who completed my surveys, volunteered in my classroom and offered unsolicited words of encouragement, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I was able to witness and be part of the incredible success of a teacher-parent-student model of education.

The art show on June 7th will be a reflection of this success. I hope to see you all at Fine Arts and Technology Night. I feel as though that night will be a visual depiction of what I feel in my heart.

Thank you so much for letting me be a part of this community, allowing me to love and educate your children, and helping me to find my true home.

Have a safe and creative summer!

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Fine Arts & Technology Night is June 7th!

Texture Rubbing Galore!

Students at all levels have been doing texture rubbings, inside and outside!






Fifth Grade Clay Houses

Fifth graders have been studying TEXTURE through the creation of clay houses.



Second Grade Coil Pots

 The second grade has been exploring clay by learning the coil method of handbuilding,
and how coils can create TEXTURE
They have been very creative with their structures!




First Grade Pinch Pots

First graders have enjoyed learning the pinch pot technique of handbuilding clay.
Using stamps to add TEXTURE focused them on the theme of the unit.



Third Grade Sun Masks

Third graders have been using Sculptamold paper clay to create texturized sun masks.
We talked about how popular sun images are throughout the history of art.



Fourth Grade Native American Animal Masks

Students have been using Sculptamold paper clay to create Native American Animal Masks. They are focusing on the concept of creating TEXTURE.




Thursday, April 26, 2012