Past projects 28
Diverse Materials for Diversity in the Art Room!
Funded Apr 7, 2021Thank you for supporting my art education program and creative students! This week we began our school year with a self-portrait lesson. We used our brand new Crayola Colors of the World Crayons.
These brand new Colors of the World crayons come in a 24 pack with a wide variety of flesh tones. We began our project by reading the story, The Colors of Us, which celebrates all the beautiful shades of skin. This book was a great introduction to our lesson.
The students were able to test out each crayon to determine which shade best matched their skin for their portrait. We had a wonderful time examining the colors and drawing facial proportions. These materials are a great addition to our classroom and we look forward to using them multiples times through out the year. Thank you for your support!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Oliver
This classroom project was brought to life by T-Mobile and 4 other donors.Hooked On Children's Lit in the Art Room!
Funded Mar 16, 2021Thank you so much for supporting art education and my creative students! As an educator, I do my best to incorporate literature into my art lessons. Literature in the art room builds early literacy skills, a love for stories, and the ability to interpret messages in visual literacy.
This week my students started off the school year with brand new boxes of Crayola Colors of the World crayons. These colors are wonderful because they now have twenty-four different flesh tones for kids of all different skin colors. Our school celebrates diversity, and we started off the year with a self-portrait drawing!
I used the book, The Colors of Us, to introduce the variations between different shades of skin tones. This book was helpful because it introduced different shades with fun names and beautiful pictures. Both the children and I enjoyed this book, and it was the perfect introduction to our art lesson! We appreciate your support!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Oliver
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and one other donor.Let's Get Crazy with Oil Pastels and Paint Brushes!
Funded Dec 30, 2020Thank you for graciously providing my students with interesting materials! I introduced the Lyra Watercolor Crayons which was an option for adding color to robot designs. One student reflected on her experience with these tools, and stated she loves them. This was her first experience using the watercolor crayons, which is a controlled and tidy version of watercolor paint. What she loves most about them is that they are easy to use, soft, and blend nicely. She also loves the vibrant colors and that she can mix them to create beautiful tints and shades. Our next step with these materials is to try some printmaking! We can't wait! Thank you again for your generosity and support of art education.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Oliver
Carve It, Stamp It, Print Print Print!
Funded Dec 17, 2020When I introduced my students to their new printmaking materials, specifically the linoleum block printing, they were intrigued! This was a brand new material, and they were very curious about what it was and how to use it. Printmaking is and exciting and under used art medium in schools. By creating a design on the block, making careful decisions about which parts to carve out, students are using problem-solving skills. Once the design is complete, they begin to carve out areas on the block, ink the plate, and create multiple prints.
One of my students was so excited about this material, she went home and did additional research and sent me emails over the weekend thanking me for the opportunity. She has been working hard on her design and I can't wait to see her continue to grow in this medium. This opportunity was given to her by you all, as donors. She is grateful and filled with joy! It's moments like this that fill my heart as an art teacher. Thank you so much for supporting art education and my students!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Oliver
This classroom project was brought to life by FamilyAlbum and 4 other donors.Help Rejuvenate the Artistic Mind at the National Art Convention!
Funded Oct 17, 2019Thank you so much for supporting the art program at Richmond Hill K-8! Participating in the annual art conference is inspiring and refreshing. Hands-on activities and best practice workshops help boost learning in the classroom and keep things fresh and exciting! I look forward to learning and bringing back new ideas to my students! Thank you for your support!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Oliver
This classroom project was brought to life by Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and one other donor.Help Rejuvenate the Artistic Mind with Art Education Conference!
Funded Jan 29, 2019Thank you for supporting my artistic growth by helping me attend the National Art Education Association National Convention in Boston, Massachusetts! As a life-long learner and regular attendee of professional development, I have to say that this year's conference keynote speakers were phenomenal! We had Howard Gardener, the educational guru, with his theories of multiple intelligences. I couldn't even believe he was there! He was a philosopher whom I learned about in my education courses, and to find out his wife was an art teacher. I was also able to listen to the artist, Amy Sherald, speak about her experience with photographing and painting a portrait of Michelle Obama. It was truly a year for great speakers!
I was also able to co-present with colleagues to other art educators across the country. We presented a STEAM project with kites that can be flown indoors. Unfortunately, during this time was when Peter H. Reynolds had his keynote presentation. However, just being in the vicinity of this author and illustrator was special. Peter H. Reynolds has several inspiring books about young artists, and his books aim to improve positive outlooks and empathy among people. I felt so blessed that he was able to take time to come to our conference and sign all those copies of books! What a treat!
Attending conferences also allows art educators to meet with vendors, learn new hands-on projects, and try new materials for the classroom. I was able to participate in a mixed-media project where I was able to create a print of a historical city building on top of canvas, which was turned into a standing pillow. I know my students will love this project! I also can't wait to share my experiences with my students about the Museum of Fine Arts, which is where I saw my first Frida Kahlo artwork in person. This conference was truly a blessing, and I am so thankful for DonorsChoose and the generous people who support students and teachers. We definitely need you all and can't express enough gratitude of how much we appreciate you! Thank you so much!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Oliver
Art Teacher Needs Art + Design = STEAM Conference!
Funded Oct 24, 2017Thank you so much for supporting the visual arts. Attending the National Art Education Association National Convention is always a rewarding and refreshing experience. Unlike other educators, there is usually only one art teacher in the school. The convention is a rare and unique opportunity to connect with colleagues who share the same content expertise and passion for educating young artists.
Attending the conference has many advantages for teachers. At these events, we are able to network and connect with each other. Most importantly, the conference allows teachers and artists to share information with one another. Each day is full of sessions related to hands-on art experiences and best practices in the art room. In addition to sessions, we are able to interact with all the art supply vendors across the country. This opportunity allows us to experiment with their materials, try new ones, and participate in their suggested projects for our students. It is an incredible experience.
This convention was a STEAM convention which allowed me to learn about lessons that could be fully integrated in the art room with other educational content areas. I am particularly looking forward to trying out the Northwest Inspired Collagraph project with my students. This is a unique printmaking process which involves incorporating other cultures into student artwork.
In addition to being a conference attendee, I was also accepted to present at the conference with another coworker. We were able to bring Louisiana culture to Seattle by sharing how to create traditional Mardi Gras screen masks. It was a good feeling to be able to bring a full STEAM project to the conference and pay it forward. Attending conferences are a great way to get inspired and learn new ideas to take back to the classroom. Thank you so much for supporting my professional development and school!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Oliver
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and one other donor.A Drying Rack for Fabulous Artwork!
Funded Dec 29, 2014Thank you for your contributions to our school. This year is a transformation year where all new faculty is reforming the school. Midway has been chronically failing for many years. Our school is working towards creating a positive culture and climate where we can stimulate learning as much as possible. Art education plays a vital role in enriching the lives of our students. Creativity allows children to express themselves in a unique way. Our new drying rack has been beneficial to classroom learning, and the students are able to create more elaborate work and use the rack as means of art preservation. Thank you for all of your contributions! We would not have been able to obtain such a wonderful resource without your help! Midway is grateful for your support!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Oliver