Compass Rose

Students in sixth and seventh grade have created elaborate compass roses as part of their unit on the line. We studied antique compass roses from the early days of navigation and learned a little about cartography in the process. Students were to create a compass rose that included not only North, South, East and West, but also NE, SE, SW and NW. To further challenge them, they were to mark NNE, ENE, SSW, WSW, WNW and NNW.

As you can see from the following pictures, the results are incredible...

Compass roses

What 6th and 7th have been up to...

Ribbons wanted!

The 8th grade is putting together their hot air balloons and we are in need of ribbon to help with the trim for their baskets. Any ribbon that is about 12 inches long would be greatly appreciated!

Museum of Glass

Tacoma Art Museum

We had a fantastic trip north to the Museum of Glass on Thursday. Despite dangerous skies, we stayed dry as we explored the sculptures and installations of glass on the Bridge of Glass and the water and glass installations by the entrance.

Resolve! An answer to my prayers!

One particularly industrious student added gallons of yellow acrylic paint to his pant leg that I assumed would be the end of the line for his uniform. His clever mother went with Resolve Carpet Cleaner and just reported that his uniform is paint free!

I will buy stock immediately.

Fifth Grade to Museum of Glass

On October 15, 2009, students in Mr. Eastes and Mrs. Cestnik’s class will head north to the Museum of Glass in historic Tacoma. We will meet at the Vancouver Train Station by 8:30 a.m. for the train’s 8:45 a.m. departure.

Please make sure each student has a sack lunch with their name on it as well as clothing that would be appropriate for rain, wind and/or cold. Waterbottles are great. No cameras please.

Students will arrive in Tacoma around 11 a.m. We will take a short light rail ride from Union Station to the Bridge of Glass. Students will have an opportunity to explore the 500 foot pedestrian bridge filled with artwork to the museum.
We will tour the museum at 11:45 a.m. Our visit will consist of three 30 minute tours. Students will participate in the full museum experience, visiting a working glass blowing studio, exploring galleries in search of themes, and they will create artwork in an interactive, experiential learning space.

We will leave Tacoma around 3 p.m. and arrive at the Vancouver train station at 5:20 p.m. Please allow plenty of time for parking.

Due to the cost of the museum and travel on the train, we are requesting $10 per student for expenses. This is an exciting opportunity for these young artists – an experience they will never forget! Please make your payment to Mr. Eastes or Mrs. Cestnik.

Thank you!

Ms. Larkin
Art
jenniferl@stjoevan.org
360.696.2586

More share hour opportunities!

I am needing some assistance with labels for the portfolios! We have over 400 students that need a label on their portfolio. I use the labels on other projects for the school as well. If you could type up the labels at home with a Word document, I can print off the labels at school.

JENN LARKIN
Kindergarten
Mrs. Mannenbach

Pretty basic. Contact me if you are interested!

Thanks!

The Paper...

Much to their chagrin, students in 5-8 grade are responsible for writing on paper per trimester. While you think me cruel and unusual, I teach to the state standards for Art, which requires in addition to demonstrating art skills and knowledge, that students describe, analyze and interpret Art. Writing this paper will not impede your height nor running ability and you just might learn something.

I encourage you to bring your paper in prior to the due date for feedback. Few take advantage of this opportunity for direction and suggestions. Papers are to be typed and turned in no later than noon on the due date OR LOSE ONE LETTER GRADE per school day that they are late.

Students will write a 3-5 paragraph (minimum) TYPED paper that will answer some basic biographical information on the artist. Who are they? When did they work? What type of art did they make? How did they become an artist (if known)? Why are they important?

In addition, students will identify (title and date when known) one piece of artwork by this artist. Using Elements of Design (line, shape, value, texture, color, mood), students will critique the piece. Describe what you are seeing!

Please contact me if you have any questions! Thanks

Fifth Grade Newsletter Information

Welcome back!! I trust you all had tons of fun and relaxation and junk food and you are ready to launch into a new school year! There are big things in store for you this year…

Fifth grade should be called “The Year of Art.” As big fifth graders, you not only get two of the best teachers in the school who are always up for fun and hijinx, but you also will participate in TWO field trips and will be the highlight of the spring Art show.

Fifth graders will voyage to the Portland Art Museum for the first time on a field trip sometime after Christmas break. They are the only grade in the school that will take a train to Tacoma and visit a hot shop and gallery at the Museum of Glass. It is frequently mentioned as one of the best field trips at St. Joes (and not just by me!). Finally, you will walk the runway in your creation at the Shine & Show. More about that later.

This year we will explore space as a unit. The hallway and cafeteria should transform into the final frontier early next year. I thought space was an appropriate unit given that we are living in 2010. Wow.

The fifth grade will write one paper per trimester in Art (same due dates as listed above for 6-8). This year, students will choose from one of the Scholastic Art magazines I have in my classroom to read and write about an artist. No internet research required. You may look on the back for some information on the papers, but we will cover it in detail in class.

Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I look forward to seeing you!

Kindergarten Newsletter Information

Hi! My name is Jennifer Larkin and I am the Art teacher at St. Joseph Elementary. I would like to introduce myself to you as well as give you some information on our Art program.

I am starting my sixth year of teaching at St. Joe’s. I graduated with a Bachelor’s in Art: Drawing/Painting/Printmaking and received my Master’s of Arts in Teaching degree. Prior to working at the school as an Art teacher, I was a scenic artist working on opera sets and set designs. I continue to do free-lance work as a painter today.

This year, students will learn a lot but they will get messy. They will be using a variety of media, such as chalk, paint, ink, glue, crayons, beads, glitter—you name it! I use only washable paints and markers, but the shirts may stain. KEEP BLEACH ON HAND!

Students roll their sleeves and I do my best to avoid a mess, but productive children are often messy children. Please do not have your child wear their best shoes on art day— TUESDAY AND FRIDAY. I have found that some of the most catastrophic spills and messes are caused by long hair knocking over bowls of water or the hair falling into paint trays and I have a human paintbrush on the loose. I ask that all girls with hair to their shoulders or beyond come to class with their hair in a ponytail.

An exciting addition to the Art program this year is a printing press. Our annual talent show, the Evening of Entertainment, includes a Dad’s Spaghetti Dinner, which doubles as a fundraiser. A portion of the money raised went to the Art department, which purchased our printing press. Look for masterpieces in the winter term.

Please drop by my room (Room 1) anytime. I always like feedback and I am looking forward to another great year!

1,500,000 Butterflies!

The Butterfly Project was brought to my attention by a parent this morning. The Holocaust Museum of Houston is putting together an exhibit to remember the children that perished in the Holocaust. Their goal for the spring 2012 exhibit will be to display one butterfly for each child that was lost. They have an estimated 400,000 butterflies collected so far. I will forward this amazing and touching art project to my friends who teach, but please check it out and share the website! It is not just schools that participate.

http://www.hmh.org/minisite/butterfly/index.html

2009-2010 School Year!!

Welcome back or welcome to Art. This year we are going to be exploring new media and returning to further investigate the standards. I trust you have all enjoyed your summer break and are ready to roll up your sleeves and get filthy.

Anyone that feeds me pasta and ice cream is naturally aces in my book. Just before summer vacation, I was told that the Dad's Spaghetti Dinner allowed me funds to purchase materials. With this gift I have purchased a printing press for the Art room. My undergraduate degree included printmaking, so once I have dusted off my memory and ensured that I will not destroy my new addition, we will begin creating prints in class. How cool! I will now be obliged to name all of my children after varieties of sauces and pasta shells to show my gratitude. "Get back here, Linguine!" "Mariana, don't make me come over there!" Seriously, thank you so much to all of you that participated or attended the fundraiser to make this possible.