Category: Collaboration

STEAM collaboration #3

3/31/2016

This year, the STEM teacher and I made a big effort to collaborate more. We set aside at least one week per marking period to create works that delve into the intersection of our subjects through STEAM collaborations.

First semester, we worked on PSAs (three of which finished in the top three for the Meijer Great Choices Film Festival and two won recognition at the State Film Festival). Second semester, we ended 2016 with a collaborative origami mural to remind others to "be nice."

This semester, we decided to get a little more blended in our approach through an Architectural unit that asked students to design and create a structure in a group setting.

We were nervous about how it might work out because students were asked to do a lot in only a little over a week. They had to come up with a purpose statement for their structure, make a blueprint, make a sketch-up, and make a model.

Although time was tight, students really pushed themselves and created some great works that combined both hands-on and digital building.

Check out the process below:

And some finished presentations:

Overall, this was one of the more successful collaborative projects we have done so far this year. We do not plan to do the exact same work next year, but will definitely work in the use of sketch-up for future 3D rendering as well as having both digital and physical components for students to create.

be nice

12/17/2015

We had our second STEAM collaboration this week, as we wrapped up 2015 at WMS. Students created an origami mural around the be nice campaign and then worked collaboratively to create larger structures. Some things worked well, others didn't. It was fun regardless and we learned a lot along the way. Below are some pictures of students in process.

Ready, Set, Film!

9/22/2015

It has been a few days since the last update. Students have been busy filming their animations and videos since then. It has been fun to see students develop a vision for what they want to do and then act on it. Along the way we have done some peer critiques and used that feedback to push ideas further. Here are some images of the process so far.

I was a little nervous about jumping into video production so early in the school year, but now that we are completing the process, I think it has been a wonderful way to begin our creative journey. By collaborating with STEM, students that I would not normally meet until January get to spend time with me now. 7th and 8th graders have been able to mix grade levels and use their different perspectives to work through ideas and come up with new and inventive solutions. And, overall, students have been able to hold themselves up to a production schedule that will help us in each and ever project we work on throughout the school year.

A Dot is A Lot

9/11/2015

Students finished their Dot Day works today and combined them to make larger spheres inspired by the Peter H. Reynolds book, The Dot. Before we made it to the larger work, students completed their individual marks, photographed them, and uploaded them to Artsonia. We uploaded more than 90 pieces today and I am so proud of how quickly my students were able to do it, thanks to Artsonia's classroom mode!

When students uploaded their works to Artsonia, they included how they connected with the story we had read and how their personal dot reflects their personality. Here are a few of their responses.

Christina: "The Dot" story is a story about a little girl that thought she couldn't draw. After her teacher helped her discover a way for her to draw she made more of the dots but every time it was a bit different. She turned a simple dot into art. This connects to me because I also don't think that I can draw but I do like to work with lines so that is my way of art just like the little girl in the dot story.

Ana: The story means that there are many different ways to make a dot, and every dot in the world is different. The purpose of us in class making a dot is that it means that every single one of else is different, thus resulting every dot in this room will be different. While glueing our dots together, means that we are all connect in some way.

Jack: "The Dot" story is saying to start with what you are good at and build from there. I started making patterns and colors and built from there.

Zach: The reason I used pattern for this circle is because it represents me, which this means that I'm fun and energetic. The dot story is saying even though you think your not that good at art, anything can be art even dots can be looked at is art as long as try and have confidence in yourself.

After we finished uploading the works online, students then folded their circles into equilateral triangles and began gluing their pieces together. If you plan to do this, you will need 20 to make a sphere. Five for the top, with points towards the center. Ten for the middle, that alternate points up and down. Five for the bottom, with points to the center. Once those parts are complete, you can glue them together. Here are some images of the process:

For the top and bottom, you will need to glue the five together so the points connect to center.

For the center, you will glue ten that alternate positions (pointing up and down).

The end result is a fun series of globes we will be able to hang in the hallway for everyone to view! We will make additional ones that are all colors combined with the leftover pieces from each class!

Happy New School Year!

9/8/2015

Well, after what seems like half a lifetime of Summer vacation, we started back up in the BCWMS Art room today! It was a great day filled with meeting new students and picking right back up with the ones from last year. Here are some of the highlights from our first day back:

Clay on the First Day!

Clay on the first day in the BCWMS art room is no secret. I have blogged, presented, and posted about it time and again since we started the tradition about five years ago! Today was probably the MOST successful start to the year using clay. The kids were on fire as they recalled vocabulary from last year and showed off their slab-making skills. I am very excited about our use of the clay bowls this year and how we have rethought our Empty Bowls event for 2016. I will post more details on this as we get deeper into the project.

Testing Out Dot Day Ideas

Last year was the first year we participated in Dot Day on September 15th with our collaborative paintings. This year, I am working on a new idea and thinking more 3D for the collaboration. I worked on this prototype yesterday. The Dot, by Peter H. Reynolds is a celebration of making your mark and seeing where it takes you. In the spirit of that adventure, students will be making circles that they create designs on and then build them into a larger sphere in hopes they see how much more they can be and accomplish when we work together and support each other as a team. These will then hang outside of the classroom in our smART space. After School Art students got a jump on making their individual circles today in class.

Tour the Room

I am so thankful to be starting my tenth year at BCWMS as the Visual Arts teacher! As my twelfth year of teaching gets underway, I am so excited to have found some new ways of organizing my classroom and decorating the space to make it more efficient and user friendly. Enjoy a little peek into our chaos below!

Here is a view from my desk. Equiped with my ELMO and computer, I am ready to take on the day. I like having my students set up in groups and enjoy the collaborative efforts that result in this set-up.

I updated this bulletin board this year. I also found a new home for the drying rack in this spot next to the painting supplies. I am still in the process of figuring out the right layout and labeling, but I know it is a better solution than years past!

I am probably most excited for this area! I created detailed lists of what can be found in each cupboard. Last year a student helped create the colorful labels. I think this will help selection of materials move smoothly throughout the year!

This is where students keep their computers when they are not in use. I also purchased the paper containers this year in hopes they will be a neater solution to year's past. I also bought the dress form, which is currently sporting my Gelli Arts apron, in hopes we will have another fashion designer enter their works in competition this year.

This is a fun area of the room. These guys help me watch over the kiddos and keep them on track.

I color code my hours. This space helps students keep track of their 3D work. Each student is assigned a number and they use that to put their pieces on the shelf.

We have this awesome wall unit to house portfolios. Students are assigned table numbers and then they are grouped by color.

Our participation in the Scholastic Art Awards is one of my highlights of my career. Since 2008 we have had more than 80 works from BCWMS recognized at the regional level with four National Winners. This year I made a bulletin board for the hallway outside my classroom inviting all interested students to get involved with ways to get started.

I hope everyone had as fun of a start as I did today! Good luck to you and your year of Artventures!

A Space for smART

2/18/2014

An Art Space Makeover!

Before.

After.

The Steelcase furniture gives seating for up to 13 students to collaborate and plan digital projects. The display cases show both student and teacher work as conversation and idea starters for those in the space. The gallery wall showcases student work and acts as a place for students to stop and examine examples of excellence in our program.

Our smART space is nearly complete. Due to grant funds from the 2013 winning Meijer Great Choices videos and other monies, we were able to purchase the canvases, paint, furniture, and frames that now fill the area leading up to the Art room. It has been awesome to see it come together and also see students taking a moment to enjoy the space and the art that fills it. This has become a popular place for students to share ideas as they collaborate on projects and work individually. I am very thankful to have the opportunity to introduce this kind of learning environment to students and look forward to enjoying it for years to come.

smART space

1/24/2014

The finished sign for the space outside of my classroom has been completed! 8th grade students and those in my after school art class did an amazing job collaborating and contributing to this triptych by making their mark. I hope to do many more paintings like this with my students for other areas in our school.

In addition to finishing out this piece, we were also thrilled to begin the transformation of the space outside of my classroom. This transformation of the smART (sit.meet.ART!) space will be completed once we get our framed art on the walls, which should take place in the next week or two. Students already got a chance to get in the furniture and use it to foster their learning and collaborate with each other.

Paint and Clay, Day 2

1/22/2014

I am completely floored with the results from the first two days in the Art class with this new group of students!

8th grade students and my after school class has done an outstanding job of working together to create the colorful collaborative painting pictured above.

7th grade students completed their bowls for our Empty Bowls event and some even brought in their donations to secure their own bowl for the event.

I am so excited with the progress in just two days of class… I cannot wait to see what else comes out of these classes as we progress through the term!

surrealistic me

6/23/2012

Earlier this year, 8th grade students created images using Photoshop for the Surrealistic Me, The Student Creative project. This project collected images from students that study all over the world and curated the submissions into a book that you can preview below and purchase to help support the Jacaranda School for AIDS orphans in Malawi. We submitted two classes worth of images for the project; Justin Thompson and Mariah Rae's portraits were selected for publication in the book. Check out the full book below!

Surrealistic Me | Make Your Own Book

reactions to kctc collaboration

6/7/2012

Students had a chance to see the work from KCTC students who used BCWMS work as inspiration this week when Kim Westorp (our partnering teacher) delivered the work to our classroom. It was great to hear student reactions and for them to see the work up close.

This project was inspired by TEDXGR livestream event and we look forward to continuing this type of work next year with our students!