BEYE Discovery: December 2011

Watercolor storybooks (or Mama Moo-moos) with Jenny

Imaginations soared with this fun and creative lesson: Jenny asked the students to work quickly and fluidly with watercolor in a 4 page booklet moving from one page to the next without over-thinking the process. Sheets of wax paper were laid in between the pages to prevent them from bleeding together. Then Jenny asked the students to look within their watercolors for animal forms, real or imagined, and to outline these forms with charcoal. Using the animals and the watercolor background imagery for inspiration, the students created engaging short stories that were an instant success! Each child had the opportunity to share their story with the class. There were hot lava eruptions, MaMa Moo-Moos and harmless seaweed eating Blitszo's. I am really wishing I had captured their stories on video... yet the photos are fun too!

Illinois Mammal Study & Illustration

We took advantage of the wonderful resources available to us through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Morton Arboretum's Education Center. The Illinois Mammal Education Trunk included pelts, skulls and replicas of tracks and scat (animal droppings) for a number of animals such as raccoon, beaver, squirrel, coyote and white tailed deer. We asked the students to select a mammal for study and to create a booklet with pelt, skull, track and scat illustrations through careful observation of each.

Using the beaver pelt, I demonstrated how to draw simple, large shapes first and then to add the smaller shapes and details within. I encouraged students to really look at what they were drawing: for the skulls, to carefully draw the correct shape from both the side view and the front view; to note the size of the eye sockets in relation to the head size; and to record the correct number and type of teeth visible, depending upon the view.

I love these illustrations, especially those of the skulls and tracks, as these allowed students to provide the greatest amount of information. To complete the books, students conducted research about their mammal's habitat, habits and diet using the Directory of Illinois Wildlife on the University of Illinois Extension's website:

http://web.extension.illinois.edu/wildlife/directory_mammals.cfm

The students' illustrations are currently on view within the second floor landing display case. Do stop in for a peek!

beaver pelt and skull

white tailed deer pelt

Jessica's raccoon skull illustrations

raccoon skull (lower jaw unattached)

raccoon pelt and skull

Aidan drawing the squirrel skull, side view

Cyrus drawing the coyote skull, side view

Beye Discovery Workshop at Whole Foods, Nov. 11

Thanks to the work of Maria Nitsche, Beye PTO Fundraising Chairperson and Julia Evans, Marketing and Community Relations Specialist at Whole Foods, Beye Discovery scholarship students will benefit from donations given by Whole Foods patrons via the “dime-a-bag” program. For the months of October, November, and December, patrons can bring any re-useable bag to Whole Foods to carry groceries home and donate the dimes they are given to benefit the Beye Discovery scholarship fund!

To promote awareness of the Beye Discovery program with Whole Foods patrons, our students were busy creating functional and decorative items such as pencil cases, toys, games and wearable art that was show cased in a workshop on November 11^th. A number of patrons made donations and in return, Beye Discovery students gave them a choice of items created at the workshop to take home in appreciation! A big thank you to all the students who devoted their time before and during the event to promote Beye Discovery and scholarship contributions!!!

Please be sure to scroll down to see photos of the students at work prior to the actual workshop!