Students in the Write

Our “Heart of Writing” writing project was just that…writing that came from our hearts. We wrote about the things that were special and important to us. We did this by going through each step of the writing process. First, we brainstormed what topics would be in our hearts and then selected one topic to write about. We made a first draft of our writing and then revised it by adding a beginning, middle, and end to our stories. We also added details to our writing because we learned details make our work more interesting to read. We then edited our stories and made sure our writing had capitals and periods where they needed to be and made sure there was at least one vowel in every word we wrote. Then we published our work by writing a final copy. Finally, we shared our work with each other and with you!

Click here to hear our first grade students read their Hearts of Writing

Every September third graders begin their year in the art studio by designing and executing Cubist paintings.

Cubism was an early-20th century school of painting and sculpture in which the subject matter is portrayed by geometric forms without realistic detail, stressing abstract form at the expense of other pictorial elements. The Cubist style emphasized the flat, two-dimensional surface of the picture plane and rejected traditional techniques of perspective. Cubist painters used geometric shapes to create abstract paintings. Unlike other styles, abstract art does not concern itself with creating realistic representations of the world.

Cubists used geometric forms in different ways. Robert Delaunay and his spouse Sonia believed that color and shape alone could create beautiful art. They worked together for many years making paintings that looked like fragmented rainbows. In the spirit of the Delaunays, the third grade used templates to create designs filled with overlapping shapes and then colored their work with cake tempera paint and fine nylon brushes.

Along with our discussions of art history and shapes, students were able to develop their understanding of color theory. While painting, each child was challenged to mix his or her own colors discovering firsthand how to make particular shades and hues. Students eagerly shared their discoveries with their classmates and answered each other’s “color questions.”

Click here to visit our gallery.