Announcing Move - to Distance Learning blog

Hi
As we scramble to set up for distance learning, one of the puzzles is to figure out is the best way to serve our K-5 students at Capitol Hill.

For now- I think the best way to share lessons and be easily accessed, is to have a new blog (connected only to my PPS account) - dedicated to Distance Learning assignments.

https://distance-art-ch.blogspot.com/

Please bookmark this link.

I will be adding grade level pages as needed.

• For now all K-2 will be on the NEW site (distance-art-ch...).
• Grades 3-5 may continue on the NEW site (distance-art-ch...) AND I will start posting on their     google-classroom accounts soon.

We- teachers are trying to figure out what works BEST FOR STUDENTS.

Going forward - ALL new assignments will be added to the new page
https://distance-art-ch.blogspot.com/

Update for Capitol Hill students

Hi Everyone-

Wow, I am learning new stuff hard and fast on - SeeSaw and Google Classroom. 
BUT...
until I figure out how the classes are going to be grouped -  
it is best to continue to use this blog site for Art Lessons- instruction. At least until notified.

So please save this link.

My plan is to have a lesson posted for students to work on next week. It will be up by Monday morning.

While I know not every household has art supplies, my goal is to come up with lessons that invite the use of different materials.
I have made inquiries with the district about some supply packet purchasing discounts - (while I am hoping to hear back from them today - they are busy)
but 
1. I don't expect families to put out more money on supplies.
2. Supplies are not required to be successful !

Now would be the time for the kids to have a scavenger hunt around their home to see what supplies you already own.
Look for:
pencils, paper, markers, glue, tape, scissors, color pencils, sidewalk chalk - that kind of stuff- 

When you collect supplies, find a place to put them all together - so you are ready to get working on Monday. You know even a paper grocery bag would be fine for keeping it all together. 

And if your parents are worried about "art mess"- no problem. Take another grocery bag and cut it open, lay it flat for a "place-mat" to protect your table or wherever you are working. Save the place-mat and reuse it.

All Right! You are ready for action.

Please remember -PAPER AND PENCILS (pens) - WILL BE ENOUGH - and all lessons will work with whatever you can find.

I'm excited - we are going to be creative, inventive and have some FUN.
Ms. H. 

Monday

I am not sure what next week looks like for us art teachers. We will be having some staff training with the classroom teachers about online teaching tools beginning today, through CH. 

As art teachers we have yet to hear from our Art TOSA within the District. They are the ones tasked with guiding us and advocating for arts programs in the schools. 
I hear some information is coming by Friday.

Regardless - I want to keep teaching and have connected with the CH teachers to link up to their resource pages. 

SO - I do have some bigger ideas for projects but am not going to share them until students are ready to engage in online school. When is that time?
We are in a funny limbo - this is not a criticism of the kids, this is waiting for the focused routine directives from the District to us and families. 

Remember-you will find 11 new activity/learning assignments posted on this page since March 16th. 
Feel free to scroll back and choose to do some other offerings; you are not limited to the most recent one.

In the meantime - here is one more Mo Willems video related to making a board game and playing it remotely with a friend.

Spoiler alert - I do think creating a board game is an engaging assignment we will attempt and look forward to leading or prompting you through it.
If you design a board game now - you will not ruin the project for yourself, you will just be ahead of the other kids in how you think and plan. 
 
Here is a link to some artist designed board games you might like to browse.They are a pretty nerdy-creative bunch...ahhhh my FAVORITE kind of people!

https://www.moregamesplease.com/best-board-game-art/2019/1/28/top-10-best-board-game-art-2018 

I hope you all are well.
Ms. H 
 

 

Design a game...artists do that you know.

Good Morning, or Hello,

Here is Mo Willems again with a different activity I think you will enjoy.

Of course you can copy him, but I think you will have more fun inventing your own board game. 

Maybe think about it as a model of how you get around your home, to the playground, to school. 
Here are some ideas to get you started.

Maybe you have rewards;

• fresh baked treats
• candy
• screen time
• face/time with friends
• find a hundred dollar bill lying on the sidewalk

pleasant activities:

• read a book
• help with cooking
• set the table
• put away toys or stuffed animals
• wash the car
• fold warm laundry

or unpleasant chores:

• pick up dog poop
• take out stinky trash
• load the dishwasher
• clean the bathroom
• other

Use these as side paths, think "Chutes and Ladders," to skip ahead or be sent back spaces.
Take a picture of your creation

Have fun. 
Be creative.

XO-
Ms. H. 

AND here is a link to the photos of kids doing some of these activities. Thank you.
LINK

keep playing with paper...buildings, characters

Even adult artists use paper as an art material - 

One thing that makes these so fun to look at is, when the material of the object is changed from it's expected original ...hmmm material, the resulting perspective is surprise or delight.
We expect to see one thing and then we see something else that doesn't exactly belong.

(There was a whole art movement in the late 1960s-70s in which different artists used unexpected materials, and/or changed the size of the object. It is a form of Pop Art).

I have always liked this work by Dosshaus - two artists from Los Angeles. Their work is not only paper or paper mache but also black, white and greys.

Be inspired:

Keep with what you started yesterday with Mo - plays, building, scenes....

OR

Try to make some simple items from around your house. Really look at the thing and try to include specific details. It will be a fun challenge.

See you tomorrow!

Mo....Mo

Or is that More Mo?

I think this activity could easily take two or more sessions. This is a BIG one.

What would be really cool, would be if you make a building or other props, and some moveable cardboard characters. 

Here is Mo. Have a sketch paper ready to have fun with him.

Here is the "Nanette's Baguette" - story being read.

MAKE YOUR OWN ( a bunch of different artists do this - I'll link them tomorrow)

If you do not have any toilet paper tubes - make your own. 
Cut paper in half and roll and tape.

3rd graders - remember how to make a Nbdele house, and the paper rooms (which have an inside and OUTSIDE). 

Here is a link to a slideshow of how to do this:

Paper room/buildings directions - click here 

Play around with them and maybe even make a 30 second (short video).

(I would love to share any video you make - but this is the tricky part for me- how? 
I don't think google classroom is set up for 400 students. 
So email me your interest to up-load a video and I'll send you a link to a doc where we can put them in one place to view. This would be fantastic). 

You all are the best! Thanks for the pictures!

nhelmsworth@pps.net

 

to build on yesterday

Hi-

Here is Mo Willems' episode 3 video:
https://youtu.be/9tVfVvmJP7E 

I think it is a good next step, because he teaches a simple flip-book in the end of the video (one that doesn't use a whole stack of post-its).

Also there are some other fun examples - watch and see what they are.

Please pause the video to participate with him and catch up, or imitate his drawing exercises. 
Remember
Don't just watch...DO!

Enjoy!

Here is a picture sent by a student yesterday - they made the Alma Thomas project posted last week.

Fantastic!

 

Okay...the FUN continues!

I had heard about these Mo Willems videos, released especially for this time of staying home and staying healthy. 
Thank you Mo- for this effort and thoughtfulness. 

The videos are about 27 minutes long and each features a theme of one of his book series. He doodles, then shows us how his books are made or where he gets ideas. 
Each has a participatory portion at the end. 

Here is episode 1:
Mo Willems - episode 1 - Pigeon 

Here are some simple examples of how to draw the pigeon.

Once you get the hang of it, spend some time experimenting with:

• Beak- size and position
• Eyes
• Wing position
• Legs

THEN
Draw a bunch of pigeons - really lets say 9 for grades 2 and up, younger kids stick to 3 pigeons.
Look at what you created and choose 3 to redraw and arrange them into a story...adding details, other characters, a simple scene and whatever objects are needed for the story.

Think
Who, why, where and how it all is resolved? What is the problem? lost a cookie, can't fly anymore, forgot to clean room/nest/bus, bumped into a tree....?

Remember - if you do a bunch of interesting drawings of pigeons in different poses, you can redraw them OR cut them out and rearrange them on new paper with added props and details.

Okay - let me know what you come up with.

Spring Break

Hi Everyone-

As this is NOT the Spring Break that anyone expected...but it is that designated week, I figured interest might wane for the students.

So when I post next week, it will be light...more activity based than learning based.

But if I am reading this expectation wrong - please let me know and I will turn up the energy.

My plan is to jump back into action on Monday March 30.

PPS has sent us teachers a survey asking about our skills and how we might want to support students. I am not sure exactly what they are thinking about art class...no word on that. 
So as teaching art is my real love, and if I can be helpful for CH students and beyond, this is how I would like to share my efforts. 
But I will do what my employer tells me to do.

In the meantime:
Lots of ideas were posted last week. 
Go back and do some of them. 
You won't be bored. 

Please share your creations with me.

wash your hands and go out and enjoy the good weather....then wash your hands again...

Ms. H

Trillium time

 

Crowds...real life=NO, Imaginary= YES

First- 
Thanks to a superstar who sent in her picture of her model bedroom - inspired by the 
Van Gogh challenge a few days ago.
Way to go!

Now to think about the CROWDS we are all avoiding.

Use the Owls that you learned to draw yesterday, and draw a crowd of OWLS. 
Add details and silly stuff as you like. 

• hats
• glasses
• neckties, bow ties
• aprons
• mustache, funny hair
• you'll have some good ideas

Here are the steps to get you started:

Start at the bottom of the paper.
Paper can be tall or wide.
 

 Make the first row and add some shape detail before drawing 2nd row.

Repeat until at the top of the page.
See how many rows you can create.

What could be at the top? Clouds and good weather? Or surprise me - you'll figure it out.

Lesson 1-C

OWLS

I was inspired by this 9 minute video on OPB about Great Grey Owls in Oregon.
I watched it this morning - looks like it was shot in central Oregon...so that view is nice, makes me feel like I left Portland for awhile.

Let's think about Alma Thomas, and Van Gogh and "do" owls today. 
Or your own version of an owl - with:

• drawing
• legos
• twigs from outside
• pebbles
• other - non-drawing materials

1. Watch video about Owls (be patient...like when you are looking for an owl).
https://youtu.be/WPVWSW_luME 

2. If you need more inspiration - here is a slide show of how many different cultures working throughout history, made art about owls.
slideshow Owls - in art 

3. Here are some owl drawing suggestions: mainly - any shape works, if you add big eyes, and beak and little ear-looking tufts.

Okay - go for it..... remember...send pics - I love them- nhelmsworth@pps.net

Owl - by Vincent Van Gogh

Lesson 1-B

There is no way for me to know if any of this is useful...except for the great video sent from a student yesterday....but I guess, no surprise to me, I love teaching art.
Doing this makes me feel normal.
send pics - nhelmsworth@pps.net

Well with school being closed for awhile longer - I wonder if we teachers will be directed to provide online learning - so the technology part no doubt, will be improving on this end.

In the meantime.
Be inspired by this:
2 assignments/options- 
CALLING ALL 5th graders - for the "perspective drawing of your room" - keep reading below



Lets look at Vincent Van Gogh's  painting of his room.
How can you:

• Use it as a guide and make it out of legos?
• Use it as a guide and draw it with markers
• Use it as a guide and make a 3-D model with paper (3rd graders remember your paper sculpture skills from last fall) - printer paper and tape, crease long paper for strength, roll paper into little straws for strength 
• Use your play pieces - Barbie -other figures, washcloth, stuff to make a model (I really want a picture of this set up)
• Other creative ideas  

Okay - 5th Graders - especially for you. Draw your room! 
OR draw Van Gogh's room using 1-point perspective. (of course-anyone else is welcome to try, and you may surprise yourself)
If you don't have a ruler - use the straight edge of a book - OR just free-hand draw. It's okay.

Here are 2 refresher tutorials to get you started.
You might want to do BOTH as practice, then take the skills you learned and APPLY them to drawing your own room. 
2 YouTube videos below:
basics of drawing a room 
this one is a bedroom with bed to one side like Van Gogh 

Extra credit - try drawing the kitchen! 

Get busy - this will take awhile - but should be quite fun! 

Keep learning - Ms. H.

whoo-hooo - You students always amaze me!

Yay - for this brilliant interpretation (from a 4th grader) of Alma Thomas's style going from this:
 

To THIS:

 

Yay for this creative interpretation of Alma Thomas' work in LEGOS
Love it!

Lesson 1-A

 3/17/20

Again - slow and steady...enjoy the process. :)

Okay - If you did Lesson 1 or want more challenge, here is the next step.

Alma Thomas was an art teacher and artist - (one of the many reasons I think she was so special). Alma Thomas link to review if needed
So as an art teacher, she probably was very familiar with "Starry Night" by Van Gogh.

If you take a few minutes you can see how her paintings were inspired by Van Gogh and the Impressionists. 

Impressionism is a style of painting that focuses on the effects of light and atmosphere on  colors and forms. Impressionist artists often used broken brush strokes rather than smooth and unnoticeable ones and also used many colors to paint scenes of every day life.

Impression - Sunrise - Claude Monet 1872 - a rougher brush style compared to below

Sunday Afternoon... by George Seurat 1886

You can also notice how her work is quite different - though she was interested in capturing some of the same concepts - glowing stars, beauty of night sky, wind, clouds....nature

Look at this slide show with your next assignment.
Alma Thomas- Van Gogh Challenge 
If you send me pictures of what you create, I will add them to the slideshow as examples.

nhelmsworth@pps.net

Have fun.

 

New way of thinking

Hi Everyone - parents and kids alike,

Parents understand how we need to have distance to keep everyone as healthy as possible and this is going to be our reality for the next few weeks.

I miss seeing the students already...and know families are going to be having a hard time keeping the kids busy.

So - while I am not completely up to speed on how to do online art assignments - and am unsure if this is the correct venue...I will begin here with some links that can get you/the kids (of any age) started.

So this is my rough start:
REMEMBER - doing any of these lessons fast defeats the purpose. It is the PROCESS that is enjoyable...so slow down and enjoy the thinking and making.

Many of these lessons could be linked sequentially - as that is the way I think....so I'll number the lessons - though I think they could work stand-alone as well.

I would like you to send me any pictures of your completed work. Please!
nhelmsworth@pps.net

To keep this simple - here is a video used with the 2nd graders last week. 

Lesson 1- 3/16/20

Alma Thomas- African American artist
https://youtu.be/Ek3msO7GJ6w

Not everyone has art supplies at home. Ohhh fun - let's see how this can be done with other materials! That in itself is a creativity challenge. All Right, bring it on!

pebbles
leaves
twigs
legos
paper clips
???? 
Take a picture and send it to me! 
nhelmsworth@pps.net

Below it will be additional links for broader thinking.
Alma Thomas slide show 

Alan Bean - real astronaut who walked on the moon, and became an artist 
6 minute video

Stories read from the International Space Station 
34 minutes, but can be broken into sections.

New lesson posted tomorrow! 

Love to you all in this unsettling time!

Ms. H.

So much is happening....

Winter is the busiest and most fun part of the year in the art room because all classes are in full-swing.

Here are some pictures of what is happening at different levels.
Incredible work - if I do say so myself!

Kindergarten -Winter themes

1st grade - Family Portraits

2nd grade - Birds

3rd grade - Munter Paintings

4th grade- Plant Paintings

5th grade Action Self-Portrait Sculptures - in process