CES Weekly Communicator

Chapelfileld’s Veterans Day program will be held on Monday, November 11th at 1:15 pm in the gym. Prior to the assembly, we will have a light reception at 12:45 pm. Please RSVP by October 28.

Kindergarten and first grade had so much fun making their clay pinch pots and slab bowls this month! We learned about our kiln and firing process and discussed the difference between paint and glaze. Each student proudly took home their pottery over the past week.

Second graders spent the beautiful month of October exploring nature art. We looked at some examples by Andy Goldsworthy, Thomas Dambo, and David Bird. We discussed how art made with natural materials can be temporary, change with the seasons, as well as be environmentally friendly. Next, we ventured outside and made our own temporary nature art with found sticks, acorns and plants. Finally, we picked a stick that had fallen to the ground and took it back into the classroom. We learned how to tie a piece of yarn around our stick and decorated them with multi-colored yarn.

Third graders learned about the art and life of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. She is most well known for her use of polka dots on pumpkins that represent the idea of infinity and being part of something much bigger than ourselves. She once said “Our earth is only one polka dot among a million stars in the cosmos.” Next, we drew pumpkins, cut and glued them to a background and created our own dot motif using our paint mixing knowledge and stamping and painting techniques.

After practicing a lot of paint mixing, fourth and fifth graders applied their skills to create their first original paintings of the year. Fourth graders are using their own hands as the subject for an artwork that represents their identity. It’s so fun to see how henna designs, football, and even Taylor Swift was used to tell a visual story about themselves and their interests. Fifth graders have been challenged to paint a monochrome scene (shades and tints of one color). It has been tricky to shift their mindset away from realistic colors but the results have been impressive!