Recently, students in the third grade art classes have been learning the basics of computer-aided design (CAD) with Sketch Up for Schools software on their Chromebooks. This work is conceptually related to the geometry-based sculptures that students create in the primary and intermediate grades at our school. In our intermediate and middle school art classes, students have the opportunity to work creatively with digital technologies that can lead them toward careers in engineering, architecture, and various types of design.
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Recently, the 7C Art class has been creating virtual 3D models of animal cells with Tinkercad computer-aided design software on iPads. Students imported photos of their CAD models into the Sketchbook or Google Slides apps, where labels and background colors were added. This week's student art features watercolor paintings by 2nd graders. Students drew, cut, and assembled relatively simple paper shapes to make the more complex structures of the birds. The watercolor shapes and patterns in the sky area echo the shapes of the birds, thus helping to create compositional unity in the paintings.
Fourth grade art students are currently working on the sailboat project. The hull of the boat is an origami structure. The mast is supported by a pyramid-like cardstock structure that is carefully measured, cut, and taped in place. The mast and boom are made of drinking straws. The entire boat is sealed with tape to make it impermeable to the water in the colorful paper mache coating. Each boat will be mounted on a wave structure composed of wadded paper, cardboard, tape, and paper mache. The boats will be attached to the waves with glue and one Phillips screw. Cotton will form the foam on the waves.
Recently, the 5th grade art classes have been making relief sculptures of sea animals. The project began with careful drawings of photos of fish, dolphins, and killer whales (Two of those drawings are shown here.) Students drew grids with one-inch squares on photos. They drew grids with two-inch squares on drawing paper. The shapes observed in each square of the photo were drawn in the corresponding squares on the drawing paper. Students transferred the edges of their drawings to sheets of Styrofoam, which they cut out with hacksaw blades. The form of the animals was built up with wadded paper and tape. The skin is a coating of colored tissue paper and glitter glue. Students also made hanging hooks for their sea animals with paper clips, screws, and tape.
Recently, third graders have been creating doghouses, dog pens, and dogs with Sketch Up computer-aided design software on their Chromebooks. This geometry-based architectural software allows students to integrate their creative art production with math and engineering. Some students of the 3H art class are shown here with their drawings in progress.
Kindergarten MaracasThe KB and KP art classes recently completed their paper maracas. This geometry-oriented construction project helps students understand the concept of the cylinder by making one. The cylinder is the base upon which students use paper, unpopped popcorn, cotton, glue, and tape to express their creativity.
Paper Cross Sculptures The second grade art classes are shown applying the paper mache skin to their cross sculptures. In this multi-step geometry-based construction project, students roll cardstock cylinders that they join in various ways to form more complex structures. A base composed of cardboard sheets and cardstock supports the cross. Pillow Sculptures
Sixth and seventh graders have recently used their sewing skills and imagination to create animal pillows. The materials are felt cloth, thread, poly-fill stuffing, and buttons. 7C Robotics "Exam" The 7C art class has just finished their robotics construction and programming unit. Working in groups of three or four, students built robots according to specifications and learned to program them to accomplish a mission. Students used EV3 Classroom Scratch language software on their iPads. Group members worked collaboratively within and outside their groups so that each team would be able to successfully program their robot to achieve a goal. While the mission for each group was the same, programs often varied in terms of degree headings, rotational degrees of motors, motor speeds, and the number of turns. As the video shows, all eight teams' robots successfully crossed the bridge, picked up the target object, and carried the object back to base. Great job, 7C! Sixth grade art students have recently been finishing plant and animal cell pillows by using the running stitch and the whip stitch to sew their creations. The pillow designs are based on students' drawings of reference illustrations. The organelles of the plant cells shown here were affixed to the surface of the pillows with fabric glue. Students stuffed their pillows with poly-fill. This project reinforces science class content and is part of our school's integrated STREAM approach.
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Mr. John Bell, Art TeacherMr. Bell focuses on an interdisciplinary approach to teaching and presented STREAM (Science, Religion, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) workshops at the Diocesan Teacher Conference, as well as multiple workshops throughout his years in the Diocese. Archives
July 2024
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