Learning A lot from Portraits

Our first graders are beginning their journey with Portraits this year, finding out what makes a portrait a portrait. We have talked about the fact that when we want to recognize someone, we look at their face, helping us to understand that portraits are meant for us to focus on the face. We want to know WHO they are. What else can working through portraiture teach us?? Well, we learn proportion as we look at sizes of the features of the face, we learn shape as we discuss BEST shapes for each feature, we learn parts of the face and how they function, we think about physical differences between people, such as eyes, hair, skin, etc. We also look at how the face is balanced in a symetrical fashion. During the application of color, we learn about shadow and light on the face and how to blend color to achieve specific results. We experiment with texture and pattern as we fill in hair and clothing. Portraits are just too much fun! What are the wonderful ways you can use portrait in your classroom?

things are moving along.....

Well, Art To Remember is coming to an end soon and we will be getting envelopes stuffed and sent home in October. Instructions will be given along with your class set of envelopes so you will understand how to handle this particular fundraiser.

It will be nice to start on some art plans that Miss Kristy and I have been discussing. We are really excited about some of the projects that will be coming your way soon. Remember to hold on the student artwork until Arts Extravaganz in April so you will have plenty for display during the week long art show. If you don't know about this April event, please ask me or your grade level leader.

While I am blogging, I would like to send out a request. I need to know some ways I can get the students working on the two computers in my room more oftern. I only have them from 40 - 50 minutes and I have 25 - 36 students. How do you handle this in your classrooms? I would really like to see the computers used more than they are. Let me know any suggestions you might have that I can adapt to the art program. All are appreciated!