Students experimented with peg boards and documented their work. Check it out!

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To celebrate our space unit (we designed space ships, made star collagraph prints, and made a collage based back drop) 1st graders went on a space adventure. We made paper mache helmets and space journals for recording the sights. Then we blasted off and traveled around a new, mysterious planet…

To celebrate the 4th graders’ clay skills, each student created a dinner set consisting of a cup, spoon, plate, and bowl using hand building, slab, and coil techniques. We learned about art connected to food (especially Judy Chicago’s Dinner Party – the whole piece is on permanent display at the Brooklyn Museum of Art! http://tinyurl.com/5z2n5t) and watched videos of performance art related to dining. Each class then collaboratively planned a performance.

4L’s performance involved pinatas! Each student created a paper mache pinata and chose how to smash it. Inside were jokes and a treat. Students took turns as performers and directors. Also – popcorn! Check out our video:

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To celebrate the 4th graders’ clay skills, each student created a dinner set consisting of a cup, spoon, plate, and bowl using hand building, slab, and coil techniques. We learned about art connected to food (especially Judy Chicago’s Dinner Party – the whole piece is on permanent display at the Brooklyn Museum of Art! http://tinyurl.com/5z2n5t) and watched videos of performance art related to dining. Each class then collaboratively planned a performance.

4D’s performance centered around edible sculpture. John, the Director of Dining at school, generously shared apples, cheese, knives, and cutting boards with us to play with. The class made celebratory banners and some amazing sculptures! Check out our video and pictures:

(Password is “friendscommunity”)

To celebrate the 4th graders’ clay skills, each student created a dinner set consisting of a cup, spoon, plate, and bowl using hand building, slab, and coil techniques. We learned about art connected to food (especially Judy Chicago’s Dinner Party – the whole piece is on permanent display at the Brooklyn Museum of Art! http://tinyurl.com/5z2n5t) and watched videos of performance art related to dining. Each class then collaboratively planned a performance.

4A’s performance centered around darkness and surprise. We sewed blindfolds to use during the performance and practiced playing Heads Up, Seven Up. The class then set up, snacked on popcorn, played the game together, cleaned up, and had a shared discussion. Check out these pictures of the student’s blindfolds and a time lapse video of our Lunch Party:

(Password is “friendscommunity”)

How to Talk to Children about their Art Work

Parents and teachers sometimes are not sure about what to say when they see the artwork of children. Adults can show respect by the way they look at and handle their children’s art. We often make value judgments, such as, “Oh it’s so beautiful, pretty…” but this has little meaning to a child who has been concentrating on the physical sensation of the material. It is meaningful to make descriptive comments about the child’s work:

“Let’s look. Where did you make lines? How did you make these lines?”

“I can see that you mixed colors.”

“How did you make this color?”

“I noticed that you painted inside all your shapes.”

“Tell me about these shapes, they look very different from those shapes.”

Descriptive comments bring to his or her awareness the consequences of his or her physical experiments. Your comments are highly valued by your children.

A great question is, “Can you tell me about your work?”

This question allows the child to say whatever is on their mind about their work.  It also prevents us (adults) from assuming that we know what the child has made.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

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Third graders are making ceramiphones in shop this year. Here are two performances from 2013-2014 (password is friendscommunity):

LS science teacher Ben Horner stopped by the shop to show off the huge kale plant that grew in the Peace Garden over the summer! We included a student for scale…

1st Grade has been experimenting with collograph printing in art. Check out some action shots: