Art Show at Kaler

Families were able to view student artwork on display at Kaler during the "Kalerbration" on May 8th. The artwork will stay on display in the main halls for another week or so. Please come view the work of these talented students!

Cinderella Project Based Learning project at Kaler

At Kaler, Mr. Halpern's Kindergarten and Ms. DiDonato's 3rd grade collaborated with Art and Music to create a production of Cinderella. Click here to view the video: http://vimeo.com/92863317

K's used recycled materials to create props, 3rd grade used mixed media to create the background scenes. The action was recorded using Puppet Pals and it was edited together using iMovie.

1st Grade Pinch Pots on display at Kaler

1st graders learned how to make pinch pots using earthenware clay. They used tools to create SHAPES and TEXTURE and a pattern.  Once dry, the students added COLOR using underglazes. The pots were fired in the kiln (baked in the clay oven). Afterwards they painted a clear glaze on top and the pots were fired one last time in the kiln. The students then created an environment for their pinch pots to live in while on display in the cabinet in the front entrance of the school. Please come pay them a visit!

Student Artwork Online

Please visit our online art galleries at Artsonia.com to see the fabulous artwork that Dyer and Kaler students have been creating!

Dyer:  http://www.artsonia.com/schools/school.asp?id=32396
Kaler: http://www.artsonia.com/schools/school.asp?id=53519

Participating in Artsonia provides many benefits to 

schools, teachers, students and parents

Boost students’ pride and self esteem: 

I have used Artsonia in other schools, and it is wonderful to see the increased pride and self esteem that students feel after viewing their artwork in an online museum. Students are further inspired to try their best, knowing that their work will be on display for family and friends to see.

Digital Portfolio:

The Artsonia user name can travel with the student to other schools, allowing for a complete digital portfolio of artwork. You, as a parent, can even upload other art your child has created to his/her Artsonia profile.

Increase parental and family involvement in students’ education: 

Parents and family members can take a much more active role in their child’s art education by viewing the artwork online, joining the child’s fan club, and leaving supportive comments in the artist guestbook. This feedback from family, especially relatives who may not live nearby, is priceless in the development of a child’s artistic confidence. 

The security key code ensures that only the parents/guardians are given access to the student’s account.  Please know that by registering you will occasionally get emails from Artsonia letting you know when new artwork has been added or if your child’s artwork has received any comments. You will be able to review and approve the comments if you wish for them to be posted publicly. 

Financial support for art program: 

After student artwork is published online, parents and family may purchase keepsakes from the museum with the child’s artwork imprinted on it, and 20% of the revenue is given to the school’s art program. 

Integrate technology into the classroom: 

I am currently photographing and uploading the artwork images, however my long term goal is to have a desktop computer and document camera in the classroom so that students can learn how to photograph and upload their own artwork and type up artist statements when a project is complete. 

Common Questions about Artsonia:

How do you ensure privacy for young students? 

On the Artsonia website, each student is identified only by a screen name which is usually the student's first name and number (e.g., Sarah22). Last names are never publicly posted on the website. Additionally, all comments are pre-approved by the registered parent before being posted for the artist. Parents register after the art teacher distributes a “security key” to the parent and they visit the website directly. 

Who owns the copyright of the artwork submitted? 

Artists retain ownership of their artwork. However, by registering as a parent of an artist, the parent grants Artsonia the right and license to publish the artwork in the museum and on merchandise. For more details, see our Terms and Conditions at 

www.artsonia.com/terms.asp

How long will the artwork be published? 

Artwork may remain published on the website indefinitely until either the parent of the school chooses to remove it. 

For more information: http://www.artsonia.com/privacy.asp

I am very excited to be able to offer this program to our students. I hope that you are as excited about seeing the student artwork online as I am.  If you are interested in volunteering to help out with Artsonia please send me an email at burmanma@spsd.org.

Thanks and enjoy!

Project Updates!

The Art Rooms at Dyer and Kaler have been very busy places the last couple months.

Here are the recent projects in all grade levels:

5th Grade:
Yarn Weaving
Students created weavings on cardboard looms and learned the terms warp and weft.

4th Grade:
1 Point Perspective Drawing (interior of a room)
We first looked Andrew Wyeth's paintings of the rooms in his summer house in Cushing Maine and then began practicing how to draw a realistic looking room using the one point perspective technique.
I unfortunately don't have any photos of their works in progress. Look for the finished artwork soon on Artsonia.

3rd Grade:
Quilled Paper Designs
At Kaler Elementary, the third grade and 3/4 students have been learning how to make designs using the ancient art of quilling.

Collaborative aerial city map
At Dyer Elementary the students have been working really hard on this aerial map project. I was not anticipating how long this project would take to complete, but we are finishing up and hopefully we'll be able to reveal our map to the school and city communities soon! They will be starting the Quilled Paper project next.

2nd Grade:
Paul Klee inspired warm/cool color geometric shape castles
Kaler and Dyer students have been learning about the artist Paul Klee (pronounced "Klay") and the differences between warm and cool colors.

Recycled Material Insect Sculptures
Dyer students created insect sculptures using only recycled materials and glue. Kaler students will be creating similar kinds of sculptures during their Insect PBL in January.

1st Grade:
Eric Carle inspired painted paper collages 
Students at Dyer and Kaler created their own painted papers with textures and then after looking at Eric Carle illustrations in his books The Tiny Seed (Dyer) and The Mixed Up Chameleon (Kaler), the students created their own collaged illustrations. Kaler students are finishing up this project so stay tuned for their artwork on Artsonia soon.

Kindergarten: 
Line Explorations (6 Different Kinds of Lines=Many Shapes)  

(Kaler Kindergarteners will finish this project after vacation)

Artwork based on the book The Perfect Square by Michael Hall

Kaler Student Artwork published in Online Art Gallery!

Kaler Elementary now has an online art gallery at Artsonia.com !

Please visit this site and check out the wonderful school-wide self-portraits created at the beginning of the year. Student artwork is only displayed if students and parents gave permission for student work to be displayed online (media release form).

Parents, you can choose to register your email address if you would like to be notified when new artwork created by your child has been uploaded. Family and friends worldwide can join your child's "fan club" and leave supportive comments and praise (these are only published when a registered parent gives approval).

If you choose to purchase merchandise featuring your child's artwork, know that 20% will be given back to Kaler School!

I apologize in advance for any mislabeling of student artwork. With 500+ students between Kaler and Dyer, there are unfortunately bound to be a couple of mistakes!
Please email me if you see any errors: burmanma@spsd.org

Thanks!

Kindergarten Symmetrical Butterflies

The Kindergarteners at Kaler Elementary have been studying butterflies. I began a short butterfly project with them on Monday so that their artwork could be ready in time for their Butterfly Celebration on Friday.

The students demonstrated that they could tell the difference between symmetrical (design that is exactly the same on both sides) and asymmetrical (design that is different on each side). I introduced them to Sammy the Snake of Symmetry (he's really just a piece of green masking tape with eyes...shhh!) He attached himself to the middle of my face, running down the center of my body creating a line of symmetry. I moved my arms in different positions and the students had to tell me if my hand positions were symmetrical or asymmetrical by giving a "Thumbs Up-Symmetrical" or "Thumbs Down-Asymmetrical".  Unfortunately there are no photos of me with Sammy.
They also were able to play the game by looking at several different designs to see if they could tell the difference between symmetrical and asymmetrical.

I demonstrated how they were going to create a butterfly that had symmetrical wings.

Step One:
Fold paper in half, trace around small dowel with a black oil pastel, draw butterfly wing on the right side only ( I gave them sample butterfly images for inspiration). Fold the paper in half and scratch over the lines (showing through) with fingernail. When paper is opened back up.......the wings are symmetrical!

Step Two:
Draw wing designs and patterns with the black oil pastel, periodically folding and scratching to symmetrically transfer the shapes.

Step Three:
Using watercolor paints, paint one shape on the right side of the butterfly, fold it in half and rub the back of the paper to transfer the color symmetrically. Paint on top of the left side to make the color bolder. Continue until the whole butterfly is colorful and.....symmetrical!

Optical Illusion lines and shapes

Last week Kaler students got to practice making some optical illusions using construction paper and black markers. They were given the challenge of cutting out at least 5 shapes from scrap construction paper, gluing them to the paper and then trying to outline the shapes with lines. As the outlines got bigger, they would run into the outlines of other shapes creating an illusion of movement. Some students even took it a step further by turning the shapes into faces.

I spoke with the 4th and 5th grades about how these kinds of drawings sometimes resemble topographical maps of mountains and how changing the spacing of the lines could alter the illusion of height.