6th Grade "Interest" Projects

Finally. after almost entire month of hard work, sweat, grit, and noise, I am posting some of our completed 6th grade Interest Projects. We started out the year with some simple drawing exercises then jumped right into projects based on what the students wanted to learn most about.
With the help of our new classroom laptops, and stations, students had access to a wide array of materials to create.
Below you will see everything from 2D and 3D cardboard construction to paintings and pencil drawings. You'll see mixed-media, replicas, and games. Students enjoyed the opportunity to simply experiment with art materials in ways some have never tried.
Upon completion of a few more activities, the students will write written reflections based on what they have learned about the elements of art and their chosen materials.
Take a look:

Choice = Student Engagement

Let's start by saying, I have learned a lot over the past few years-and the students are benefiting. For sometime now, I have been working hard to bring in choice-based and inquiry learning. Basically, I am staying active in learning about what students care about and not only what I have to say to them. I am learning to lead by asking questions and encouraging students to work together to learn and share creative ideas.
Our classroom is always changing so that students will need the materials necessary for their individual project choices. We have a room divided into different stations: Painting, drawing, making/tinkering, mixed-media/collage, building, and mess :) Yes, mess.
I would encourage any teacher who hasn't taken the time to investigate choice-based learning and stations to give it a shot.
Get ready for a whole new, and exciting, dynamic: Students working because they want to!

Technology and Industry

One of my goals this year is to expose Old High students to a new kind of learning experience in art class. I have a growing interest with not only connecting art to real world ideas but to also help to enhance student learning in all of their other learning areas: Literacy, math, science, and social studies.
We have the amazing opportunity this year to have laptops aid us in our learning and it's only going to get better and better as Old High students learn to reach out to the world through technology.
Upon project completion, students will write and blog about their learning experiences as well as share photos of their work. Coming soon, our 6th graders will use their laptops to help with their first project based learning activity-an activity to learn about graphic and package design in art.
Below are some images during our first few weeks of school where 5th graders used the internet to research and create their visual libraries:

On the other hand, Old High students are also learning very useful tool skills. We have been introduced to our new classroom tool, a Dremel jig-saw to help with some of our innovative hands-on activities. Safety guidelines have been set up in class while using this tool and forms are going home about this tool. 

Even though our Dremel tool is mainly being used for cardboard cuts, it is amazing to see what the students can create!

Dremel Saw

Hello! I will be posting artwork very soon. Our choice projects have taken some time and are finally coming in.
For now, if you are a parent of an Old High 6th grader, please take a look at the following image below about our new Dremel Saw we have available for our students:

First Week!

We are off to a great start this year. It's been a good week of getting to know eachother, setting goals, and learning about the art room. 

Both 5th and 6th grade classes spent the first week in art with two drawing activities: 

An abstract name design and cartoon knight drawings. 

This was a great opportunity to get comfortable with our drawing skills this year and to learn to work together. 

The goal with these activities was to practice quality mark-making skills and learn about the elements of art. 

Check out some of our sample work below:

Andy Warhol in Bentonville

     Over the summer, I had the awesome opportunity of teaching two Andy Warhol-themed summer camps (ages 10-12) at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Warhol's Nature is the name of the artwork currently on display by Andy Warhol and features artwork about his love of nature and animals. Especially endangered animals.
     At the start of our new school year, Old High art students can look forward to some of these same projects. Below are some pictures of the artwork we created:

Collaboration student display of Warhol inspired Silver Clouds and Cow Wallpaper

Art sample inspired by Warhol's Birds, Bees, and Butterfly illustrations:

Projects inspired by Warhol's Endangered Animals Series:

Completed 6th Grade Automata Currently on Display at the Amazeum!

Nice work on display at the Amazeum's tinker/maker space! Great job Old High Middle School, 6th grade (Class of 2015)

Amazeum info: http://www.amazeum.org/