Past projects 25
Graphic Design: Images Making an Impact with Teens
Funded Apr 3, 2013Students in my classes remarked about the quality of the materials they were using in our graphic design unit. The rulers are 18" long and metal, so they are much better to work with than wooden, 12 inch rulers. These rulers are professional quality. The markers are also top quality and students liked using the fine tip markers on details. The lettering templates allowed them to make high quality letters on their work. Since many of my students don't consider themselves artists or even good at art, they felt much more successful as they used the templates to make their advertisements. Students have gained more confidence. My kids have surprised themselves with the work they made since these materials arrived. The brayers and ink purchased through this grant added to materials we were short of, so students didn't have to wait in line to make their prints. They felt like they could be more productive. The materials we have through this grant made art class a much better experience for my students and the results, as you can see in the photos posted, can prove it.
We used the materials to do a unit on graphic design and visual literacy. Students learned graphic design history. We looked at ads from long ago, and recent ones too. For example, the popular motto, "Keep calm and carry on," originated in England in the 1930s. To students, this was a revelation. Also, we talked about visual literacy and looked at ads that were informative or that manipulate us. We looked at the famous Dove ads that enlighten us about the ways the advertising industry alters images of women to enhance the photos, but how they also give us an unrealistic idea of what true beauty is. Students eyes really opened up about ads they see.
My teaching was helped tremendously by these materials. I could provide materials I wasn't able to buy. The art department has a tiny budget of $500. annually. Students used high quality materials and produced high quality work. And we will continue to use these supplies too. The graphic design poster set, lettering templates, brayers and rulers will last years. As long as the district can provide an art teacher at my school, these materials will be here. Since the markers are so good, they should last into next year. The other supplies are still being used and continue to provide benefits to my students.
Your generosity has made a tremendous impact at my school and with my students. I cannot tell you how thankful we are for your help. I hope our pictures, thank you notes and this letter give you some idea how grateful we are.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Fitzpatrick
Jumping Through Hoops For Embroidery!
Funded Dec 31, 2012The embroidery materials your kind donations provided made a tremendous impact in my classroom. Students are presently engaged and excited to learn embroidery. Their designs are as varied as they are. Some students are stitching out their names, while other students are creating scenes relating to their lives or patterns based on multicultural designs. It is incredible to see how 'into' this project my students are! Students are learning new stitches each day. They learned about textiles found along the ancient 'silk road.' My students also had fun looking at some of the quirky contemporary embroidery designs that craftspeople today are making.
The cost of these embroidery materials alone is nearly equivalent to my annual budget for all 5 of my classes! I would not have these supplies without this Donor's Choose grant. I appreciate your generosity which allowed me to bring this project to my students. Their education has been enriched because you cared to help.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Fitzpatrick
Arts Exploration with Teens
Funded Sep 24, 2012Thank you very much for the materials. These basic supplies, a drying rack, t-squares and modge podge, have been welcome necessities in our art room!
By having a drying rack, students can paint more, do collage and make lots of prints. All of which have been accomplished! Without a drying rack, I was at a loss for a place to store wet artwork and now we have that dilemma solved, thanks to you! The t-squares allowed students an opportunity to practice using t-squares. Using a t-square, students can measure and cut materials with precision. It provides students a chance to be more accurate in their work. The modge podge aided in the making of woven recycled cardboard baskets and paper mache bowls made from magazines. Once these great projects were finished, students coated their work with the modge podge, preserving the work for posterity. All in all, these supplies made a wonderful impact on our art room. We greatly appreciate your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Fitzpatrick
This classroom project was brought to life by Kia Motors America and one other donor.A Glazing Fury in Ceramics Class!
Funded Apr 19, 2012I send you my most sincere thanks for your generosity. Your support means a great deal to me and my students. This grant provided us with a quantity of glaze to carry us into the fall semester of 2012. The order included glazes in powder and liquid form and underglazes. The variety and quantity of materials will allow students to explore glazing. I will be free to let them use materials rather than always feeling like I need to hold back on what students can use because we had limited glazes before.
My students are an ambitious group! Our school is an academic magnet school with very bright students. They like to explore materials and express themselves artistically. This kit of glazes will be able to meet them on their creative terms. This past spring, students made a great body of work, as can be seen in the photos I sent in. We could not have gotten these results without your help. I can't wait to see what my students produce next.
In closing, your generosity has made a great impact on our school arts department. We deeply appreciate your donation. ”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Fitzpatrick
A Boost in Making Prints & Paintings
Funded Dec 23, 2011Your donation has made a tremendous impact on what my students are able to do in Art class. The supplies you let me provide are allowing my students to make linoleum prints, silkscreen prints, and paintings. Just recently, we used the linoleum block printing tools to carve out animal images from the linoleum. The students made amazing prints. They would have not been able to do this project without your donation. Once the individual prints were made, students worked together and printed their linoleum block images on a large piece of fabric which is now hanging in the school. As it dried, students gathered around the finished work admiring each others designs. Soon, we will be using the tempera paint and silkscreen stencil materials you provided. These supplies are costly. Without your help, we would not have these great supplies.
To be able to provide these materials allows me to set new challenges before my students. Some students found the linoleum block cutting tools and the blocks difficult. We planned our work with sketches and I had the students look at lots of examples of linoleum block prints on-line and from books I brought in. As we worked on this project, I watched my students rise to the occasion. Their prints were awesome. The cutting tools and linoleum blocks gave my students a chance to try media they had never used before. This learning experience is something they will be able to build upon.
Once again, thank you for your generosity. Your consideration has made a real difference to my students. Your thoughtfulness will be remembered by me and my students for a long time to come.
”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Fitzpatrick