December Art Room Happenings

4th and 5th grade classes learn how to kit.  Thanks, Mrs. Meyer and Mrs. Pittman, for teaching us!

4th grade learns the importance of sketching

Lorenzo's Sonic the Hedgehog sketch

2nd Grade Character Trait Illustration application lesson

Bryce shows off his mobile design brief project, where he used what he learned in science about balance and motion to make an Alexander Calder-inspired mobile with multiple levels.

Our mobiles not only had to be balanced, but they also needed to have a theme.

4th grade choice project using materials from the jewelry center

STEM Art Show on Display at the Lindholm Building Through Dec. 20

Art on display in the Board Room at the Lindholm Building

Art on display in the Board Room at the Lindholm Building

Art on display in the large display case at the Lindholm Building

2011-2012 Waukesha STEM Academy Mascot for Randall Campus

Stanley the STEaM Owl, Waukesha STEM Academy 2011-2012 Mascot for Randall Campus, designed and painted by Hunter Kiehl, grade 5

2nd Grade Collaborative Stories Video Clips

 

2nd grade students discussing their collaborative story drawing

2nd grader Bryce talks about how he made his radial design

More 2nd grade students talk about their collaborative story

5th Grade Photo Update

Collaborative vehicle sculpture in progress.

Collaborative Billions of Buttons jewelry business

Collaborative bookmark business

collaborative sports jewelry

2nd Grade Photo Update

Caden and Riddock working on a collaborative story.

Ayla and Bridgid writing their collaborative story.

Partners writing their collaborative story.

Chrissy's in-progress warm and cool color art.

September Update

Young STEM artists have been busy in the Art room!  Here are some examples of their latest creations:
 

collaborative project in progress - grade 5

collaborative sculpture in progress-5th grade

My Culture project by Kendall, grade 5

My Culture project by Jackson and Ian

Shape City by Julia, grade K

Trees Have Letters!  by Will, grade K

Site-Specific Sculpture, dream catcher,  grade 3

Artist Statement for My Culture project by Jackson and Ian, grade 5

Lines and Colors in Weather by Marina, grade 1

Lines and Colors in Weather, grade 1

Shape Cities by Bryanna, grade K

Site-Specific Sculpture, Lego Guys, by Max, grade 3

Radial Symmetry by Draven, grade 2

Shape Cities by Laurel, grade K

Contest for 4th and 5th Grade

Think you have a great idea for carving a pumpkin?  The Optimist Club of Waukesha is hosting a pumpkin carving contest on Saturday, October 29th.  

If you want a chance to participate in this fun event, dream up a great design that could be carved into a pumpkin, and give your drawing to Ms. Nagan by Friday, October 14. 

Two winners from our school will be chosen to carve their pumpkin designs at Piala's Nursery and Garden Shop and can win money for art supplies for our school.  Ask Ms. Nagan if you have more questions!

Back to School!

An exciting new school year calls for an equally exciting art curriculum!  Check it out at http://teachingforartisticbehavior.org/.

Watch for studio centers to open as classes earn them.  As I observed students during my past year of teaching at STEM, I noticed that they were most motivated when offered center days, where they could choose their subject and medium. Students that I spoke with at Open House already love the idea of getting to pursue their interests while building their skills and knowledge!

Here are answers to some FAQ's: http://teachingforartisticbehavior.org/faqs.html.

We Love Worms!

Visiting Author Scott Stoll came to Randall STEM today to take the all-school photograph that will appear on his highly anticipated book, Ruby the Red Worm's Dirty Job.  STEM artists drew all of the illustrations for the book!  Everyone wore their STEM tie-dye t-shirts or red t-shirts and were organized into a human worm for the all-school photograph.  Be sure to check out Scott's book, due out in May!

Second Grade STEM students wait for the photograph to be taken.

Fourth grade students started the heart.

Building STEaM in 2010 (and 2011)!

All lined up for their photograph!  Scott Stoll is on the rooftop telling everyone to smile!  :)

Flashback to Pinwheels for Peace

This was an all-school installation for the International Day of Peace!  For more information on this world-wide project, visit http://www.pinwheelsforpeace.com/.

Graphic Design: Words as Negative Space

Students in second grade created a theme for their mixed-media drawings and incorporated writing about their theme into the background of the picture as an integral part of the design.  Words do not always have to be in front, as we discovered!  They can become lines and shapes too!

by Hannah

by Elle

Global Cinderella

First grade students in Ms. Sprader's class self-organized in groups based on which version of a Cinderella-like story they would like to read.  Students were amazed to hear that there are hundreds of versions of this famous tale all around the world. 

In order to map out similarities and differences between Disney's Cinderella and the book the group read, groups completed a comparing and contrasting chart.  Once their chart was complete, students collaboratively illustrated the most important part of their story and shared their insights with other groups.

collaborative illustration of Yeh-Shen by Joelle, Kaeley and Rylee

Fractions are Everywhere!

1st Grade artists connected math with art when they created designs from fraction pieces they cut themselves.  Students practiced making and writing fractions that represented 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, and 1/8. 

To make lifelike backgrounds, students learned how to blend chalk pastels smoothly or use various line types to add texture.



The Spring Field by Clarissa



How can art show emotion?

After viewing the life-size plaster sculptures of George Segal, fourth grade artists were given the task of making a plaster sculpture that captured a human emotion.  Students created show cards to display their writing alongside their artwork, and this writing explained how the artist used visual clues to portray their chosen emotion.

by Ethan

Klimt Trees of Life



Recycling Tree by Anan



Second grade artists studied the meaning of the tree of life symbol and how it relates to a symbol of a leaning tree that we have at STEM.  One student remarked,

"I think it means that we are learning in a new way at STEM."

  After viewing Gustav Klimt's Tree of Life painting as inspiration, students created their own tree symbol to send a message of how to take care of our Earth.

What are Masks For?

Third grade explored many purposes of masks as they designed their own interpretation of a plaster mask.  Students chose their own materials to add clues that would make viewers guess the purpose of their mask. 

Spanish Dancer mask by Isabel

Earth Day Still Life Flowers

In order to pay tribute to flowers that make our earth so beautiful, Kindergarten artists designed a mixed-media paint and oil pastel background that would show off their bright tissue paper flowers and crafted a vase to display the flowers in with colorful plastic.  They learned that painting objects from life that are not moving is called a still life.

by Marina




 

by Jacob

Go Fish with Kindergarten!

Kindergarten began applying their knowledge of fish anatomy and tissue paper techniques to create fish mobiles that look a lot like the work of famous artist Alexander Calder! 

Fish Mobile by Peyton G.



Author Scott Stoll Comes to Randall STEM!

Anika looks at Scott's travels around the world!

Scott taught all of us about the important job that worms have and how, just like Ruby the Red Worm, we all need to find our passion in life.



Scott brainstorms fun themes to illustrate for his newest book!



Ryan illustrates a page in Scott's book, Ruby the Red Worm's Dirty Job

Kelsey and Abby work on a page together.

Scott talks about his last book, Falling Uphill, and how the journey in that book lead him to where he is today and taught him a lot about life in general!

Students are curious about Scott's adventures on a bicycle around the whole world!

Thank you for visiting Randall STEM, Scott!