What better way to kick off Earth Month than by using the earth itself (air dry clay) for our nature inspired project? Students were encouraged to select animals, insects or plant forms for their imagery. In regard to style, we discussed the work of Brad and Sundie Ruppert, a husband and wife team, who re-purpose items from the past to create vintage folk art sculpture. Many of their art works are variations on a theme, using the circle as a popular motif. Click the link below to view their decoratively delicious sculptures!
http://web.mac.com/vintagesculpture/Site/Home.html
In our art work, we used pea gravel embedded in the clay for an earthy feel with added textures to please the eye. We also used unconventional tools such as coffee stirrers, eating utensils and nubby plastic balls to create small circle shapes and other marks in the clay. Students had the choice to leave the clay "as is" or to add paint when dry. Do take a look below: this was such a fun activity!
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| Daysha and Dexter examine a Ruppert vintage bird sculpture |
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| Matthew with image of a Ruppert vintage bird sculpture |
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| Simple bird silhouette exemplars outlined in slabs of clay |
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| the silhouette cut from the slab of clay with embellishments inspired by the Rupperts' vintage sculptures |
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| Leila studying a Ruppert vintage sculpture |
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| flower shape "drawn" in the clay |
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| adding design embellishments with pea gravel... |
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| the completed design! |
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| Jessica "drawing" her flower design in the clay |
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| adding embellishments... |
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| the completed design! |
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| Dexter's rattle snake at work |
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| Joel's clay slab with textures |
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| Lily's bird design in progress... |
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| the completed design! |
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| Daysha's butterfly design |
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| Cyrus flattening a clay slab |
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| adding textures |
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| a super thin layer of clay! |
This week, we also began preparations for our "Dolls & Beasties" Earth Month workshop. Our Beye Discovery students will become teachers as they share with other Beye students and their parents/caregivers how to re-purpose items such as socks, tights, knit mittens and gloves to make irresistible soft toys!
In the photos below, you will see our first creative efforts to make "Dolls & Beasties", prior to the workshop. A big thank you to Sydney and Daysha, 4th grade students, who paired up with our younger students to help them sew their Dolls & Beasties. We used tapestry needles with dull points to avoid pricking tiny fingers. The students loved their creations so much, most wanted to take them home right away. How could we say no to that? However, we also have some on display on the 2nd floor landing above the auditorium. Do stop by to enjoy them!
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| Brody |
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| Matthew |
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| Norah |
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| Joseph |
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| Daysha |
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| Elizabeth |
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| Elizabeth, close up |
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| Sydney |
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| Leila |
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| Liam |
On Thursday, Hata presented a lesson on the importance of seeds and how they travel. To begin, she led the class on a nature walk in search of seeds. Since spring sprung so early this year, there was an abundance of Maple Tree winged keys or "helicopter" seeds resting on the ground in large clusters. Students found several other seeds as well, from an Elm Tree seed and two that were unidentified... take a look at what we collected below!
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| Looking closely |
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| Norah's Maple Tree winged key or "helicopter" |
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| Tiny flower bud from the Maple Tree |
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| Joseph with clusters of Maple Tree flowers, seeds and leaves |
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| A close-up view of the Maple Tree flower |
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| Emerson with a dandelion |
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| Porter with a handful of Maple Tree seeds |
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| A teeny, tiny seed |
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| Hayden with a handful of Maple Tree seeds |
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| A cluster of Elm Tree seeds |
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| Max with Elm Tree seed |
Back inside the classroom, Hata read from two books: "Nibbles, A Green Tale", written and illustrated by Charlotte Middleton and "What Kinds of Seeds are These?" written by Heidi Bee Roemer and illustrated by Olena Kassian.
In "Nibbles, a Green Tale" the guinea pigs in Dandeville eat all the dandelion leaves to the point of near extinction. But Nibbles finds the last dandelion plant and nurtures it, despite his desire to eat it, because "it might even be the last dandelion in the whole world". He patiently waits until it becomes a beautiful white globe of seeds and takes it to the top of Daisy Chain Hill. There, he blows the seeds into the air to land throughout Dandeville where they eventually sprout into new plants. Nibbles and all the guinea pigs of Dandeville are able to enjoy dandelion leaves once more. However Nibbles now enjoys growing them as well.
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| Hata reading "Nibbles, A Green Tale" |
In "What Kinds of Seeds are These?" We learn about nine different types of seeds and how they travel. The rhyming text and beautiful illustrations effortlessly meld science and art.
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| Hata preparing to read "What Kinds of Seeds are These?" |
Following the stories, Hata introduced different seed characteristics and asked students to share observations about the seeds they had collected.
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| An avocado seed, one of Hata's favorites
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| Cyrus and Ben examining a tiny caterpillar they found in their seeds |
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| Daysha with Maple helicopter seeds removed from their wings |
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| Dexter with a small seed |
For their project, Hata asked students to invent a seed, with a special focus on how that seed would travel from the plant to grow a new plant. She also asked students to illustrate the plant that the seed would grow into. We are so fortunate to have a group of such exceptionally creative thinkers and we ended the class with a presentation of their inventive concepts. Check out their process and completed ideas below:
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| Norah |
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| Dexter |
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| Ben |
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| Daysha |
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| Cyrus |
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| Hayden |
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| Porter |
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| Hayden |
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| Ben |
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| Leila |
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| Norah |
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| Emily |
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| Emily |
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| Hayden |
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| Dexter |
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| Leila's comic strip about finding and planting a seed |
