Category: Art (Page 1 of 2)

Math + Art – Mandalas

June 21, 2024 / Ms.C / 2 Comments

Division 5 planned and created chalk mandalas this week. When I came across this giant box of 64 different chalk colours, I KNEW we had to do this project!

First, we looked at examples of mandalas and learned that the word “mandala” is Sanskrit for circle. A mandala balances visual elements symbolizing unity and harmony. Then, students worked in small groups to design and plan a mandala on paper. They practiced how to use a compass to draw a circle, and were introduced to the concepts of radius and circumference. Next, we learned how to use a pencil as a centre point, connected to a piece of chalk with string, to recreate our designs on a larger scale outside. Students worked together to create beautiful mandalas. We discussed how this type of art is temporary and becomes a part of the community, enhancing and beautifying the space its in, even if for a short time.

You can check them out before the rain washes them away near the entrance to University Highlands, or enjoy them in perpetuity on this blog!

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Math + Art – Yarn

June 18, 2024 / Ms.C / 0 Comments

Division 5 created art based on the work of Nike Savvas, an Australian contemporary artist. She creates large-scale installations that explore transformations of space through colour, light, movement, and optical effects. Her pieces involve mathematical patterning and 3D objects. Each student created a set of eight plans. Each plan had a mathematical pattern based on the numbers 0 – 15, arranged around a circle. Students carefully chose colour schemes to complement and enhance their patterns.

As you can see below, students achieved varying levels of rhythm and harmony in their creations, depending on adherence to and execution of their planned patterns.

Digital Compositions

May 10, 2024 / Ms.C / 0 Comments

Students have been learning how to find and manipulate images using various settings in Microsoft Word.

They were tasked with creating a composition using 5-6ish images that would represent who they are. They have learned about copyright and creative commons images, how to insert pictures from within Word (using “Online Images,” “Icons,” and uploading from Files), and how to find copyright-safe images using Pixabay. (However, I have a suspicion that they are still developing their understanding of copyright based on some of the images they’ve included!) Students also learned the difference between a regular image and a vector, and students can now create their own vector using the Remove BG website. We focused on how layering images can create a cohesive composition, in addition to manipulating image size, crop, and rotation.

Below is our “digital bulletin board.” Please click on the thumbnail to see the larger size.

Self-Portraits

March 13, 2024 / Ms.C / 0 Comments

Division 5 created a two different portraits this term.

The first was a “half ‘n’ half” portrait where one side was part of a lesson in proportionate sketching, and on the other side, students used symbolism to represent who they are and what they like. After reading What Are Your Words? students added descriptive words to their portraits.

The second self-portrait was inspired by the art of Chuck Close. Students chose poses to represent themselves in a photo, then used weaving, drawing, shading, and painting to finish the portraits. Students used pencil crayon and pen to add texture to their face, hair, and clothing. The background includes alternating patterns, with attention to complementary warm and cool colours.

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Lego Chess Set

October 26, 2023 / Ms.C / 0 Comments

Necessity is the mother of invention: students wanted another chess set, so they built one out of Lego! Super inventive!

Draw What You See 👀

October 4, 2023 / Ms.C / 0 Comments

Division 5 has been starting our school year focusing on some drawing and colouring skills. One of the most significant ways for students to move forward with their art is to focus on drawing what they ACTUALLY see and not what they THINK they see. This way, students are able to develop greater detail in their drawings, in addition to developing observation skills used across the curriculum.

At this time of year our subject of choice is the beautiful leaves around us. The colours are so vibrant, and the shapes and textures are varied. Each student chose a leaf they liked, and set to work sketching the shape. They had to pay attention to small details like a bit of the leaf that was torn or missing, the shape of the stem, and if the leaf had points or texture around the edge.

Today we talked about how we add colour to enhance the texture of our drawing, and how we can blend colours to create depth and interest. We also looked at how colouring in one direction can help define the “maturity” of our art–as we could see from my examples below, it makes a difference!

Try this…

…instead of this.

Check out some of the students’ art so far!

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Project Ice

June 7, 2023 / Ms.C / 0 Comments

Division 1, 2, and 3 have been working hard over three months developing their drama skills. For the past month they have been rehearsing for their reader’s theatre performance of Project Ice: The Ice That Breaks the Night. Our final performance is on Thursday June 8 at 6:30pm in the University Highlands gym. We hope to see you there!

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Valentines for Our Buddies

February 14, 2023 / Ms.C / 2 Comments

In the spirit of community-building, Division 3 built Valentine’s robots for our Grade 1 buddies!

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Secret Path – Truth & Reconciliation

September 28, 2022 / Ms.C / 0 Comments

Text and image from downiewenjack.ca

Over the next couple of weeks, students in Division 3 will be exploring the story of Chanie Wenjack through music and art.

Chanie Wenjack was an Anishinaabe boy born in Ogoki Post on the Marten Falls Reserve on January 19th, 1954. Chanie’s story, tragically, is like so many stories of Indigenous children in this country; he fell victim to Canada’s colonization of Indigenous Peoples.

In 1963, at the age of nine, Chanie was sent to the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential school in Kenora, Ontario. In 1966, at 12-years old, Chanie ran away from Cecilia Jeffrey, attempting to reunite with his family 600 kilometers away in Ogoki Post. Nine others ran away that same day, all but Chanie were caught within 24 hours.

Sadly, Chanie eventually succumbed to starvation and exposure. In his pocket was nothing but a little glass jar with seven wooden matches.

Secret Path Week Canada - The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund

Gord Downie performing Secret Path in 2017

The late musician, Gord Downie, worked with the Wenjack family and artist Jeff Lemire to tell Chanie’s story. Gord Downie calls on each Canadian to “do something” to take on some form of reconciliACTION to help heal the wrongs of Canada’s past. ReconciliACTION is a meaningful action that moves reconciliation forward–it can raise further awareness, improve the lives of Indigenous people, or improve the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

The Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair, chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, said, “Education got us into this mess, and education will get us out of it.” Part of our truth and reconciliation work in Division 3 is to learn Chanie’s story. Some other ideas of possible steps toward reconciliation can be found at the Downie and Wenjack Foundation.