3rd Grade Art: In the third quarter, students experimented with acrylic Color Mixing, painting abstract designs and mixing on the paper, then did oil pastel animals on a separate sheet of paper to collage on top. The most recently completed project was Caldecott Art: students watched four read-alouds of 4 years of Caldecott winners across several media and illustrative styles. They chose one page from one book to inspire their piece. The choices were: 2025 Caldecott winner, Chooch Helped by Andrea Rogers (crayons, rubbing plates); There Was a Party for Langston by Jason Reynolds (2024 Honor Winner, used markers and construction paper collage); 2023 Medal Winner, Hot Dog by Doug Salati (used watercolor and colored pencil); and 2022 Honor Book, Have You Ever Seen a Flower? by Shawn Harris (used oil pastel). A few students chose the most recent winner, Fireworks by Matthew Burgess (also oil pastel). We are now starting Cardboard Insects.
4th Grade Art: In the third quarter, we did Printing, with styrofoam plates, markers, and wetted paper (transfer printing). Then, students learned about foreground, middle ground, and background for their tempera Abstract Landscape. Our Clay Tiles were bisque-fired, glazed, then glaze-fired after break, and all were sent home in late January. Currently, we are extending our landscape skills with ripped and layered paper in Layered Paper Desert, to be finished after Spring Break.
5th grade Art: Completed Giant Playing Cards, using the concept of “reflection” using tracing paper, markers, rulers, and gel pens. Fifth graders also used tempera paint on their Murakami Painted Values, based on the “superflat” style of recent CMA exhibitor, Takashi Murakami. We are rolling out clay right now, as well as starting a Graffiti Name unit.
Check us out on Artsonia: Be sure to give permission for your student's art to be published. I can see it, but it is hidden from our online gallery without guardian permission. Here is the link to do so https://www.artsonia.com/connect/NSW8D2X6
Fun Facts: Art Improves Academic Achievement. Large research studies show that students who participate in strong arts programs demonstrate improvements in writing achievement, school engagement, and overall academic outcomes. In one randomized study involving more than 10,000 students across 42 schools, increased access to arts education improved writing scores and student engagement while also reducing disciplinary incidents.
Citation: Daniel H. Bowen and Brian Kisida, “Investigating Causal Effect of Arts Education Experiences: Experimental Evidence From Houston’s Arts Access Initiative,” Houston Education Research Consortium 7, no. 4 (2019): 1-28.
