Expressing Understanding Through Art

A vivid memory of my week at Project Zero this summer was sitting beside a tree while painting an abstract picture that reflected what I learned.  I thought deeply about the colors; I wanted to capture different moments of my personal journey.  I'm neither an artist nor artistic, but I still relished the experience.  The process of “doing art”--stroking the brush on the paper, expressing myself freely, and feeling settled---was therapeutic especially within the context of an intense academic week.

Seli and Anika sketch costume designs for their Manikin Book Report Project while Amy works with Uma and Margaux on a Claymation movie

Example of a manikin sketch

Fast forward to today....Students chose one of three topics for their first book report: decorate a wooden manikin and create a backdrop for it; invent a claymation movie based on a part of the story; or construct a model that symbolized something about their book.  After choosing, students sketched their plan and listed materials.

Today students began to implement their plan.  Watching students design clothes for their manikin, draw cartoon strips to plan their claymation movie, or choose just the right color for their backdrop reminded me of painting outside this summer. Their opportunity to demonstrate understanding through art felt equally powerful and therapeutic.

I will post pictures and videos of the final products when they’re completed.  Click here to view a few pictures from today.

Homework for tonight is to:

1.  Read for 30 minutes and complete the Question Reading Log

2.  Fourth grade math page

     Fifth grade math page

3.  Spelling

***Reminder:  Tomorrow we will return to The Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts to see the altar exhibits (including ours).   We will also get to eat at a Taqueria again, so please send $10 with your child (turns out that $7 was not enough last time).  Hot lunch students will get a ‘lunch voucher’ to use for another time.