Jon & First Person Museum

Those few of you that actually come to look @ our blog may have noticed that I had linked Jon's blog for his Materials Cultures class on the right earlier this semester.
On Friday, November 12th, we were able to go on a date as Jon participated in a gallery talk.
It was really interesting for me to see him "in his element", as it were.
Temple University did a nice article with video of the class/process.

Zoe has new artwork

From exhibit "4th grade - face cards"

Zane has new artwork

Description from Artsonia:

"The students first painting experience and first Artist introduction was through the Dutch artist, Piet Mondrian. This lesson looks simple but we cover a lot in the introduction. The students are introduced to the Artist by looking at a book of his paintings. The children observe how he changed from a Realistic style to an Abstract style. We defined that Abstract means something does not appear real. The paintings we did were totally Abstract and just an arrangement of line, color and shapes. The children were then asked to draw "Horizontal" lines, and "Vertical" lines. Most of the students knew what "Diagonal" lines were, but they did not know the other two directional lines. The last element was the addition of Primary colors: Yellow,Red and Blue."

Zoe has new artwork

Sorry, do description found on Artsonia.

Zoe has new artwork

Description from Artsonia:

"The students used what we learned in our Positive/Negative lesson to make stencils to create an African Mask. They cut a symmetrical head out of black paper and then built up the face by cutting their own stencils out of a tag board paper. We used oil pastels to make the color in the stencils. When done, the students mounted their mask on a color based on the African meaning for that color. Great results!"

Zane has new artwork

Description from Artsonia
"The students sponge painted a snowman with white tempera paint to get the texture of snow. We added a scarf, boots, buttons, hat and arms to make a charming version of a snowman. We topped it off with learning how to fold and cut a small snowflake. This project challenged the students cutting, gluing and listening skills."

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Zoe has new artwork

Description from Artsonia:

"The students used self hardening clay to form a pinch pot. After it was dry, the students painted and varnished the pots. This is a hand built pot rather than a wheel thrown pot. The students learned the difference by viewing samples of both."

Zoe said she wished you could see the inside of the pot too.

Zane has new artwork

Description from Artsonia:

"The first graders made stuffed turtles, similar to the formed Name Cloud lesson, that would build on what they knew. We talked about form when something is stuffed and is three dimensional, and we talked about the shapes we would use to build the turtle (Free-form or organic shapes and Geometric shapes) The students added patterns to the shell of the turtle using various Geometric shapes. The class practiced their drawing, cutting, crayoning and gluing skills for this project."

Zoe has new artwork

Image is linked.

Mrs. H, the art teacher has a good explanation

of the assignment if you link through.

Christmas Class Parties

Customize your own free slideshow

Zane's Reindeer Hat

Zane came home from school so excited yesterday.

Look what he & his 6th grade buddy made!

It has definitely taken some getting used to,

having the kids in school so late/close to Christmas.

Today is their last day/class parties!

*UPDATE*

Zane's Teacher, Mr. S., posted some pictures

of this day in his online gallery here.

Short Report of Friday, December 18th

in which this sweet sweet sweet little face

got Rudolph'd when he tripped coming down the back sidewalk

and this was about the closest I could get to see

the Z-kids' Christmas Concert . . .

sorry about the lame picture.

& no, I totally didn't take any video.

There are *A LOT* of music programs

@ our new school, which I love!

Sure missed Jon, who had been around Tue-Thu of last week,

but had to go back to school to give a final

on the very last day of finals too, of course!

But it sure makes for a very very very long day when

I had to wake poor little wounded E from his nap to go,

E was wrangled from the backpack carrier for ~1 hour,

& Z-kids performed almost @ the very end!

Z-kids did great though!

I'm so proud of them!

Zoe has new artwork

posted in her Artsonia Gallery.

Feel free to leave her any comments here.

Zane has new artwork

posted in his Artsonia Gallery.

Feel free to leave him any comments here.

Paws to Read

The elementary school that Zoe & Zane currently attend has a wonderful librarian & a beautiful space for their library.  They have this program called "Paws to Read" where the kids get to read to pets.  Here are the pics that the librarian sent home recently.  The kids totally love this program!

Artsonia Art Museum :: Artwork by Zoe1148

Artsonia Art Museum :: Artwork by Zoe1148

Sorry this is a little late.
Zoe just had her first piece uploaded by the school.
We think it's pretty awesome.

Zane Singing School Song

So, our school does a Book Fair @ the local B&N, instead of on campus.
Zane, with his fellow 1st graders, got to perform during a bit of it.
This is their school song. That's his teacher playing guitar.
In case you can't tell, Zane's the one in the solid red shirt with logo on the front, middle of the frame, kinda.

Sorry about the poor quality. Taken on my phone.
I was wearing Eli in the backpack, so had to stand near the back.
You get the idea, though.
Jon couldn't be there because he had class.

This second song was "cute".
Zane didn't realize that it was a "commercial".
That was an interesting conversation . . .

Artsonia Art Museum :: Artwork by Zane405

Artsonia Art Museum :: Artwork by Zane405

This is something new that the Art Teacher @ our school's done.
I'll try to update whenever they post new stuff.
Let me know if you would like to be added to his Fan Club.

09-10 School Open House

Zoe & Zane had School Open House last night, Sep 24th, 09.

It was so nice to *finally* meet their teachers.
Having met them--they're *wonderful*
--I have no idea why I was so anxious. :)

Zane's teacher created the following video presentation.

Hope you enjoy.

09 Back To School

Have no idea how this happened!
Just realized that I didn't post anything for this year's BTS.
So, here it is!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Normally, the kids get picked up right in front of our house, which is nice. But in the pics, you'll notice that we jumped the gun & loaded them when the bus was still on the other side of the street. What can I say, 1st time jitters!