Past projects 19
Carving Out Creativity!
Funded Mar 27, 2018I have trouble even beginning to explain how shocked my students were to see so many boxes of materials arrive at our school as a result of your generosity. Box after box kept arriving to our classroom. I kept telling my artists, "get excited! Your experience learning about printmaking is going to be the best we've ever seen at our school."
We were able to complete multiple printing projects with these resources--students worked to illustrate a quote from literature that is meaningful to them and also created a print that fit within a theme for a series that they chose. These projects built critical-thinking because students had to carve backwards into the blocks and because creating art in a series forced them to think of new ways to show the same idea. Students loved having a large space in which to carve and they also loved getting to use the ink to mix custom colors. You can see in the images how students blended colors to fit with their series themes.
The bench hooks and new carving tools made the process of carving the blocks so much safer than it had been. And, the bench hooks and carving handles will last long after all of the blocks are used. (Although, we still have extra blocks to use this year!)
Thank you for giving my students not only the opportunity to experience printmaking, but also the opportunity to learn about paying it forward and supporting their communities. We will remember your generosity for years to come!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Laughlin
This classroom project was brought to life by Ripple and 2 other donors.We Need Easels to Paint With Ease!
Funded Oct 26, 2017Your generosity has permanently changed the landscape of High School Art Classes on my campus. When we started our unit on Impressionism, I explained to my students about various inventions that made en plein air painting possible. One of those key inventions was the traveling easel.
The surprise and wonder on my students' faces when I told them that they would each have their own easel for our project is something I won't forget. They loved learning how to set up the easels and decide if they preferred a table easel or to set it up on the floor. Each day that we started class began with students setting up what felt to them like personal design spaces. Because they had their own easels, my students really felt like they could paint like Monet, Renoir, and other artists we studied.
At the end of the project when I surveyed my artists to see if they preferred to paint with the canvas flat on the table vs. on an easel, the majority preferred the easel. My students wouldn't have been able to have these experiences or even be able to answer that question without your generosity.
We are thankful for you each time we use these resources. We will continue to be thankful for years to come.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Laughlin
Bright Students Are In Need of Some Bright Lights!
Funded Jan 2, 2016These donations dramatically changed the way that Student Council has gone about hosting events and we can't say thank you enough! These materials have made the overall feel of our events much more positive. The lamps have created a brighter future for all of us and the extension cords have built important connections. Everyone in the council feels nothing but immense gratitude and appreciation for our generous donors.
Already, we've used the lamps and extension cords for several of our events including Fall Festival, High School Formal, and our Middle School Formal. They've made our jobs much more manageable, because we couldn't have done anything without being able to see. We are going to continue using all of these items for all of our future events.
Ultimately, we've learned how kind strangers can be in order to ensure that we could have fun while getting an education. It still surprises me how someone, that has no idea who we are and that has never met us, can give such a large amount of money willingly. The lengths our organization can go to are endless thanks to the kindness of strangers.
Thanks again!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Laughlin
This classroom project was brought to life by Staples & Think It Up Supporters and 4 other donors.Tablets and Printer for Art Research and Inspiration
Funded Oct 9, 2015I cannot tell you how shocked and excited the students were to see me unpack not one, two, or three, but FOUR new tablets for our classroom. Being able to look up images that students want to incorporate into their artwork saves us time in our art studio. When a student wanted to include a specific bird in his painting, we were able to look it up using the tablet. The tablets help my students take learning into their own hands.
The printer has helped me save time in the classroom by not having to send students to the office for papers. I'm able to make quick, extra copies of documents if a student makes a mistake and needs a new one. I also love that I can scan student work before I hang it up in the classroom or if they'd like an extra copy of their art as they are working.
I look forward to investigating more about apps that we can use to explore digital art. We will continue to learn more about the technology that is available for artists.
My students and I will to be thankful for your generosity for years to come!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Laughlin
We Like Our Edges Like We Like Our Scissors: SHARP!
Funded Aug 21, 2015Thank you so much for changing the way my students cut and measure in Art class. I love getting to see my artists use Math when working to measure a space or an outline for a drawing. Students love that they have reliable measuring tools. I also love to see my students able to cut through paper and cardboard with ease. The students are in awe of the trunk of "big scissors" and make sure they are stored and used correctly.
Recently, students used the scissors to cut through multiple layers of paper to create elaborate snowflakes to decorate the school for Winter. We also used the scissors to create 3D sculptures out of cardboard. When we do drawings employing the grid method, students use the rulers to section off their drawings into precise squares to maintain scale.
The other teachers at school also love these resources, because when we aren't using them in the art room we loan them to other classes.
Thank you for enabling my students to do basic tasks with ease and precision. When my artists have these needs met, their creativity is able to flourish!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Laughlin
Make Our Art Stick!
Funded Jun 10, 2015It's remarkable how much of an impact adhesives have had on my classroom.
First, the glue dots helped my students create projects that we call "Paper Stained Glass." For this project, students paint a background using watercolor and then glue paper on top in which they've cut specific designs. Glue Dots are the best material to glue the paper so that puckering doesn't occur. Students LOVE these projects, and we couldn't have made them without you!
The glue sticks have been extremely useful as we build 3D projects. Students had to create a project that shows movement and uses unconventional materials. Many of these materials need hot glue in order to connect, and we were able to make our ideas come to life thanks to the multitude of glue sticks.
The traditional glue sticks have also been very useful for our projects and near daily use in class.
Your gift has impacted my students more than you might realize. I hope their smiling faces give you somewhat of an idea of how much they appreciate you.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Laughlin
Double Our Safe Drying Space!
Funded Oct 3, 2014Many people may not think that having more drying space in our art room would make much of a difference. We are so grateful that you understand the profound impact that these new racks have had on my artists.
It's difficult not be excited when it takes 3 office aides to bring in large boxes destined for our class. Of course, we all wanted to open the boxes right away, but we waited until we'd finished cleaning up from our lesson that day to see what was inside. EACH person in the room was thrilled to know that we had more drying space.
With around 150 artists, it's difficult to find room to store one painting per student. The problem was, my students wanted to create multiple pieces of art and experiment with multiple techniques. I am so happy to say that we no longer have problems finding safe places to store student art. Thank YOU for allowing my students to have the freedom to create multiple pieces of art and know that they will be safe and dry when students return to class the next day.
This gift will impact hundreds of students in the next few years, and thousands in the years to come. The rack is sturdy and will last a long time. And, we love being able to easily move it on the casters.
Know that you begin 2015 having made an impact on students' lives.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Laughlin
This classroom project was brought to life by an anonymous donor and 7 other donors.Help Us See Ourselves!
Funded Jun 10, 2014Thank you for your generous donation to my classroom. Your kind gift has helped my students improve their drawing skills because they are now able to practice drawing from real life.
As soon as my students realized we weren't using photographs as the basis for our portraits, they were both excited and nervous. They were excited because they could choose the pose, and also nervous because they had to look at themselves for almost an hour. (Although, as I mentioned in class to the students, at least they all know which poses they like the most. These kids are selfie pros!)
The mirrors also helped the students to think about value in a new way. Instead of just making a value scale, students had to determine the light source in the classroom and study the lights and shadows on their faces. These mirrors have increased the rigor in my classroom.
Know that your donation has already made a difference in the art program at my school and will continue to make an impact for many years to come.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Laughlin
Exercising Critical Thinking By Making Mosaics!
Funded May 2, 2014My students were so excited to create mosaics using the supplies that you so graciously donated to my class. It's rare that students get to use tools such as a tile nipper or grout, and they love any tool that first requires a "safety talk."
We started by looking a historical examples of mosaics to give the students an idea of how mosaics were used and which cultures embraced this technique. The paper squares were wonderful because they allowed the students to be able to make a first draft with materials they are comfortable using.
After realizing that it's more difficult to draw or paint with tiles than they initially thought, my artists embarked on creating artwork with the tiles. Some students fully embraced the messy and chaotic environment of mosaics, while others squirmed at the thought of putting a gloved hand in grout.
Each student had the opportunity to problem-solve using completely new materials. Each student learned new vocabulary words and a new set of skills that he or she can apply to other projects in art and in life.
Thank you for choosing our classroom. It's rare that we can complete a project with much lower than a 12:1 student to tool ratio, and the students love getting to work at their own speeds.
Know that you start 2015 having made an impact on students' lives.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Laughlin
Crazy for Clay!
Funded Mar 13, 2014Thank you for enabling my students to experience the joy of working with clay! The level of engagement in my classroom skyrocketed when I introduced these supplies to my lessons. Students asked TONS of questions about how to use each material and loved getting to see a new batch of beads come out of the oven.
Because of your generosity, my students got to explore jewelry design by making their own beads, not by using store-bought plastic varieties. Students learned how to use a bead roller, how to use a measuring ring, and how to use the mandrel to pierce holes in the beads.
Thank you for giving my students the opportunity to create with clay! We will enjoy using the slab rollers, texture items, and bead-making supplies for years to come!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Laughlin