Past projects 9
Movie Makers in the Making
Funded Nov 11, 2020Having the new iPads at school has been so helpful- especially as we transition between virtual and in-person learning. While our students have laptops, these iPads are equipped with the apps needed to make stop motion movies. That is such an engaging idea to my students, who have been at home, and often feeling un-engaged. This gives them a chance to express their ideas in a new format ( and still use some reading and writing skills). They have to story board, plan, and problem solve, but they get to do it in a fun way.
Not having to share in big groups means that we can continue to do this project even though we are limited in what type of sharing/group work we do during this time. We now have enough access to iPads to partner up. Thank you for that.
Finally, keeping students aware of new and exciting ways that art is made is important. Animation is an art form that is often overlooked in the elementary art curriculum, and your donation has made our art room a more complete place to learn.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Fritz
This classroom project was brought to life by Reese Witherspoon.Journaling Our Way to Artistic Thinking!
Funded Jul 22, 2017My students and I are enjoying our materials for daily messaging and journaling. It has allowed my students to enter into the art room with a routine, which allows students to settle. My students who struggle with transition time are having an easier time, because they know what to expect when they come into the art room. And, my students in general have more time for art making, because we have an established routine which allows students to get their materials and instructions faster. I have noticed a difference in the students' thought process, as they have a place to write and sketch their ideas before working on their projects. Just yesterday, one student told another to look in their book for the spelling of a word. And, we are not losing pieces and parts of art projects, because each student having a folder to store their work has given them a safe place to store things in progress. What may have seemed like a small gift from you made a big difference in our class, and we thank you for your support.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Fritz
This classroom project was brought to life by Sergey Brin Family Foundation and one other donor.Learning Is a Snap With Memory Cards
Funded Dec 18, 2016I have now put a functional camera in the hands of an entire 3rd grade class. They used the cameras to go on a "scavenger hunt" looking for specific shapes in their everyday world. They could have listed them, or discussed them, but by searching the school, they became problem solvers, team workers, and higher thinkers, as they defended their thoughts, and worked their way through the list. Their faces were shining when we put their pictures up on the projected screen, and discussed each team's solutions. Every student was engaged, interested and participating fully in the lesson. It is also yearbook time. My 4th graders have been coming to me at lunch time, and asking for cameras so that they might take candid photos for the yearbook. The pictures I'm getting from them are fun, and give a window into the personalities and friendships that have been developed by the students over the years. They have even managed to coax smiles from staff members who normally would shy away from being in the yearbook. I'm so excited to see them help each other, and begin to think about framing and focusing their subjects, in order to show emphasis in their pictures. I don't think I realized how much potential was waiting in the cameras being ready to use, but we are discovering new and innovative ways to use them to involve students in their learning experiences.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Fritz
This classroom project was brought to life by an anonymous donor and 5 other donors.Gaining A Little Perspective With Metallic Materials
Funded May 11, 2016My students were interested in the idea of the compass rulers. When our package arrived, I showed them how to use them, and I gave them paper and pencil, with the direction to create a design using the straight edge and the compass feature. At first, they were excited. Then, they wanted to quit, because it was hard to "retrain" our brain to use them- to move the pencil, while holding the handle still. Then, the students began to catch on, and help each other, and gain confidence. It was so exciting to watch this unfold in the art room. I watched students help each other, make mistakes, try again, and encourage each other. Even my most hesitant artists gave it honest effort, and some of my most hesitant students turned into "experts" at their table, coaching their classmates and offering advice.
After they had some time to practice using the rulers, I let them use the metallic pencils and pens to add interest and "emphasis" to their design. It was such a treat to watch them open the supply boxes to complete sets. No stubs, no dead pens. Everything worked, and everyone had every color. It really brought excitement to a drawing assignment. No one broke pencils, over sharpened them, or left them on the floor or table- they are proud of their new supplies, and taking pride in caring for them properly.
Next semester, both 3rd and 4th graders will be introduced to linear perspective. It is a hard concept, but with the rulers and drawing supplies that were so generously donated, I think my students are going to be so excited to create in perspective, that they will want to use their rulers to make straight lines and correct angles. I don't think I'm going to have to convince them about how the use of a ruler can make a marked difference in the quality of their line drawings.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Fritz
This classroom project was brought to life by an anonymous donor and 12 other donors.Inks and Paints for Our Gelli Plates
Funded Mar 10, 2016My students are really enjoying the opportunity to use a variety of colors as they experiment with making Gelli Prints. The paints that were so generously donated allow them to not only make a print, but to experiment with the effects that changing colors has on the design they have created. Because I was able to select a few different types of paints, students can print with colored paint and can also embellish their creations with accent colors.
Our first chance to use the paints came at the beginning of this school year. We did a mixed media self portrait based on The Summer Olympics in Rio, and students used their prints as the background for their self portrait. I put out every color associated with the Olympic rings, and had students create textured prints that they associated with the Olympic events. For example, we used bubble prints to create a water effect for swimming events, and we used texture combs to create a "track" for the athletic events. The students were so please with the color choices and the ability to try multiple ideas.
I anticipate introducing printing with paints to my 2nd and 3rd graders over the next few weeks.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Fritz
This classroom project was brought to life by #BestSchoolDay and 9 other donors.Marvelous Manikins
Funded May 31, 2015Your donation of drawing mannequins, paper, and conte crayons was very well received in the art room. My students had been back in school for about a week when your donation arrived. Today, I had them out on the tables when the1st-3rd grades entered the room.
They were so excited. They could not keep their hands away from them. They posed them, we were able to talk about joints, and proportion.
Their drawings were immediately more accurate. They were asking if they could add more details to their drawings, and if they could make another picture. Not one student attempted to quit early. And, all students were interested in how to use them.
Each grade level focused on a different aspect of drawing, from joints and parts to proportion, and finally to shading. All were very successful. I did not allow them to use pencil, rather by using crayon, and conte crayon they worked through their mistakes. It was a challenge, but I look forward to continuing to use the mannequins to improve our figure drawing skills, and appreciate your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Fritz
Gelli Printing Geniuses
Funded Mar 17, 2015My students were so excited by the surprise of getting Gelli Plates. They were very intrigued by the look and texture of them, and simply could not wait for their turn to come try them out. I introduced them to my 4th graders in small groups, as they were working on a weaving project. Students walked the "long way" around the room craning their necks for just a peek at what these new printing materials could do. I had them simply draw an ocean scene. The personality of each student was apparent with each print.
My kindergarten students are next to use them, as one of their standards is to create a mono-print. They will be creating house/home images. They are very excited about them, and have been busily creating their practice pictures.
What I particularly love about these plates is that they provide a high success ratio. Of all of the students who used them, each student walked away with a print they were truly happy with. They don't require a lot of paint or ink to work, and mistakes are easily fixable. This makes my students much more willing to experiment.
I look forward to the multitude of ways I can include Gelli Plates into my curriculum as well as the variety of images my students will create.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Fritz
Books for the Book Nook
Funded Dec 19, 2014My students were very pleased to see the new books. They are excited to have time to go get a book to read. They have been sharing them, talking about them, and even reading them together.
With the younger students, I've been showing some of the new books at the beginning or end of art, as kind of a preview. The older students have discovered new titles, and are excited to have a little time at the end of art to go look at books. It has been really nice to be able to send students over to the carpet to use the books to develop their ideas.
Having the new books and shelf has given me the ability to increase my students' independence in developing the ideas for their work. They are much more able to find the books that interest them, and can better care for the books and put them away neatly and safely. My young students have a safe and comfortable way to access the books that they like to look at, and they have new interesting titles from which to choose.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Fritz
Cozy Up and Open Your Imagination!
Funded Sep 10, 2014drawMy students were so excited to receive your recent gift of a beanbag chair and pillows. Upon walking into the art room over the last few days, their comments have been positive. I had some students that remarked that they had a beanbag chair at home- imagine, relating ones classroom to ones home. I also had a lot of students asking when their turn was to sit in the chairs. My kindergarten students have matched the pillows to the shape colored rows on the carpet (without any prompting).
My Kindergarten and 1st graders use the beanbag chair and pillows on the carpet designated as their meeting spot. The line leader gets the chair, and others share the pillows. It has made students more willing to sit and be attentive to the lesson, and has made the meeting spot much more welcoming. My 3rd graders are weaving. They are allowed to sit anywhere they want in the room after demonstrating proficiency with their first color of string. It was a race to see who was going to get to the beanbag chair first- but, what really melted my heart was how they (without my prompting) developed a share system so that all students could have a chance in the chair. And, towards the end of class, they figured out that 2-3 could use the beanbag by leaning up against it, or sharing the seat; they all were getting along, and chatting amiably, while working on their projects.
The impact on my teaching, even in the short few weeks that I have had the resources has been immense. There is a renewed excitement for being in the art room. Students who were hesitant to participate are raising their hands, and contributing to the conversation. As my students finish a project, they are just as likely to ask to go read on the carpet as they are to ask for ÂÂfree drawÂÂ paper. I am well on my way to my goal of creating a spot for students to generate ideas, read for enjoyment, and meet with their classmates.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Fritz