Past projects 11
Making Global Connections Through Portrait Drawings
Funded Aug 15, 2024Thank you for your generous donations to our project. This meaningful service project is something we look forward to doing every semester, but we cannot afford to participate without the financial support of people like you.
It was wonderful to see how involved the students became in creating the portraits. Many of them developed a real sense of connection with the child they were drawing. Not every student is as a naturally talented artist, but each one wanted to do their very best because they knew what an important impact this gift would have on someone else.
I saw students dive deep into the process and ask for assistance so that the portrait would look just right.
I am so grateful that the students were able to experience this project. It is so important for them to see a world outside of their small bubble and know that they can make a difference.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hudson
This classroom project was brought to life by The Gates Foundation and 5 other donors.Making Global Connections Through Portrait Drawings
Funded Sep 7, 2022Thank you for your contribution to our class project. We began by learning a bit about Nigeria since this is where the children live for whom they were creating the drawings. The students quickly learned some comparison statistics and realized how much better off they are than these children and how much they really did have. The students were especially surprised to hear the average wage comparisons between our 2 countries.
The students were hesitant about doing the assignment because they wanted to do a really good job for the children who will receive the portraits. They consulted with each other about ideas for backgrounds and color choices. Several of them pushed themselves out of their comfort zone and used a medium they weren't as proficient with.
Since the students got experience learning how to draw correct facial proportions and shade them, they are more comfortable with this task. It is a skill most students want to learn and are anxious about getting right. I think this project eased their minds as they were able to see what they could do when they really focused.
The students were genuinely glad to have this opportunity of service learning and many reflected that they would like to do this again in their next art class. I am so thankful that your generosity allowed my students to have this chance.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hudson
This classroom project was brought to life by The Allstate Foundation and 8 other donors.Creating Portraits for Children in Poverty
Funded Nov 16, 2019Thank you again for your generous support of our classroom and our students. The beauty of your donation, is that it not only impacted the art students at my school, it will have a wonderful and lasting impact on the Pakistani children who will receive the portraits our students drew.
We continue to do these portraits in conjunction with The Memory Project every semester because it always yields great results. While the portraits always turn out fantastic, it's not just the end product of the portraits that make this project successful. The students get genuinely excited and involved in their participation in this service learning opportunity. They each become emotionally attached to their "child" and therefore care deeply about the outcome of their artwork and each create something special and unique.
We hope you enjoy seeing the portraits our students created this semester. Please know that your donation meant a lot to many people, especially my student artists.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hudson
Help Us Make Memories for Others
Funded Oct 23, 2018Thank you for your donation to our Memory Project. Because of your donation, my students were able to partner with The Memory Project organization. The students from the upper level art classes received photographs from children ages 4 and younger in Colombia. These children are living in extreme poverty and to a local community organization for meals and learning activities.
The students watched some videos and read some articles about the area the children are from and then wrote reactions about what they had learned. The students learned basic facial proportion and how to measure to draw from a photo as well as creating realistic portraits but within each artist's own personal style.
The project really taught the students the impact an artwork can have on another person. Portrait Art and art in general does not have to be a medium of simple self-expression for the artist, but can be used to benefit others as well. The project helped the students to reach outside their own community to do something to help another child while at the same time, doing something they enjoy: ART!
This was an opportunity for them to practice kindness and service to others, and to reach across international boundaries through their artwork.
Thank you again for making this project possible.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hudson
Help Us Make Memories for Others
Funded Mar 27, 2018Thank you for your donation to our Memory Project. Because of your donation, my students were able to partner with The Memory Project organization. The students from the upper level art classes received photographs from children in Mexico, who were living in the streets and are now living in group homes. The students used these photos to create portraits for the children to keep.
The students watched some videos and read some articles about the area the children are from and then wrote reactions about what they had learned. The students learned basic facial proportion and how to measure to draw from a photo as well as creating realistic portraits but within each artist's own personal style.
The project really taught the students the impact an artwork can have on another person. Portrait Art and art in general does not have to be a medium of simple self-expression for the artist, but can be used to benefit others as well. The project helped the students to reach outside their own community to do something to help another child while at the same time, doing something they enjoy: ART!
This was an opportunity for them to practice kindness and service to others, and to reach across international boundaries through their artwork.
Thank you again for making this project possible.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hudson
This classroom project was brought to life by Ripple and one other donor.Creating in Color - We Need Color Ink
Funded Jun 29, 2017Thank you so much for your generous support. As art students, we need to be able to SEE color images in order to paint and replicate color images. We use the computer to generate and manipulate images in our upper level art classes, and without color ink, the students are unable to replicate those images accurately.
In one project we create a photo edited collage of a minimum of 3 separate images. Then the students have to create a painting from the image they created on the computer.
Another project, the students have to create a self-portrait using chalk pastels from a photo they took of themselves that they have enhanced or manipulated on the computer. Without the color ink, we couldn't have printed them and been able to replicate them accurately.
Thank you again for allowing us to get the necessary supplies we need to do our artwork well and we hope you enjoy seeing some of the computer art as well as final products we have created.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hudson
Help Us Make Memories for Others
Funded Feb 20, 2017Thank you for your donation to our Memory Project. Because of your donation, my students were able to partner with The Memory Project organization. The students from the upper level art classes received photographs from children in The Democratic Republic of Congo, who are living in orphanages, foster homes, or in very impoverished areas. The students used these photos to create portraits for the children to keep.
The students watched some videos and read some articles about the area the children are from and then wrote reactions about what they had learned. The students learned basic facial proportion and how to measure to draw from a photo as well as creating realistic portraits but within each artist's own personal style.
The project really taught the students the impact an artwork can have on another person. Portrait Art and art in general does not have to be a medium of simple self-expression for the artist, but can be used to benefit others as well. The project helped the students to reach outside their own community to do something to help another child while at the same time, doing something they enjoy: ART!
This was an opportunity for them to practice kindness and service to others, and to reach across international boundaries through their artwork.
Thank you again for making this project possible.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hudson
For My Students to Succeed, a Projector is What We Need!
Funded Sep 20, 2015Thank you for your generosity to my classroom. Grants like the ones from Donors Choose help teachers to be able to provide the resources the students deserve without having to buy everything out of their own pocket. It means so much to me that you were willing to give to us.
Technology is a necessity in this day and age. Having new, functional equipment is essential. When students have to use equipment that is old, or broken down, it has a negative impact on their morale and adds frustration to the learning environment.
The students have been so excited about the projector and the fact that it works consistently, has great color, and I am able to put the projector super close to the screen. I love that this enables me to be able to sit at the front of the room and see all my students while I am doing demonstrations with the projector. This is key to good classroom management.
We all love that since it is so bright, I can leave the lights on while I do demonstrations, and they can still see what is projected on the screen--- this was not the case before. We do a lot of step by step art techniques and it is great that the students can clearly see what I am doing AND what they are doing.
I also love how super tiny it is because it takes up far less space. Also, if we need to bring it to another room for some reason, it is easy to set up and transport.
Thanks again!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hudson
Scholastic Arts Magazine - The Gift of Visual Literacy
Funded Sep 2, 2014Thank you so much for your generous support. The students enjoy having the resource of the Scholastic Art magazine to see and learn about a variety of art. They have especially enjoyed learning about the variety of masks found throughout world cultures.
We are using the magazines each month as the new issues arrive. The students read the magazines and answer questions about what they read. The questions are to get them not only to comprehend what they are reading, but the students also have to answer open ended questions. These types of questions allow the students to think and form opinions about what they read. Each magazine also has a debate section. The students have to explore and think about both sides of the debate, choose a position and write about it.
Since it is important to incorporate reading comprehension into every classroom, it is vital that I have something engaging and relevant for my students to read. This resource has saved me time from having to search on my own for art related articles, and allowed me to better spend that time on other tasks.
Thank you again for your contribution to my students success.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hudson
Art Immersion Part 1
Funded Dec 19, 2009Thank you for your generous donations to our Art Immersion project. Although the materials seem very basic, they are essential to creating art! So far, we have had 8 teachers and 24 classes of students use the materials.
Through the materials you provided, students were able to create artwork in their core classes of Language Arts, Math, Social Studies and Science. The students have been very excited to have the opportunity to use art as a means of reinforcement of their lessons in other classes.
The teachers who have utilized the materials have told me how beneficial it was to be able to do these art projects with their students. Students who had not been reached through other teaching methods, were able to get excited about learning because they had the opportunity to learn through art.
Because of people like you, the arts will remain alive in our schools. Thank you again for your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hudson