School Memory Book

Read My Blog: KB...Konnected

Dear Friends and Educators,
     Because of my schedule this year I have found it very difficult to photograph and scan my students' artwork, and they always want to take it home the minute it is completed. So...I have not posted much on this blog. I have been blogging up a storm on my other blog however. There you will find free online resources for elementary school teachers and students. Please feel free to hop on over to KB...Konnected. Hope to see you there!

Warm Regards,
Karen

Cool Hands

Cool Hands 

Screenshot from my art room website.

www.artparty321.tk

The students and I loved the way these turned out and had a great time doing them.  Thanks Mini Matisse for the lesson.

I just added/updated my resources so I thought that I would share them on this blog also.

Let's Get the Art Party Started!

And the Near North Art Party has started with...ummmm...a marshmallow?

The first week's lesson has been a blast for the kids as well as myself.  The project, "The Great Marshmallow Challenge" was completely unexpected by the students and it was certainly a pleasant surprise.  Students worked in teams (a few worked solo) and were given 20 pieces of spaghetti, 1 yard of tape, 1 yard of string, and 1 (mouth-watering) marshmallow.  The challenge was to create a free standing structure, using only these materials and brain power, with the marshmallow at the top.  Quite a challenge if you think about it.  At the end of 18 min. each structure (that could stand on its own) was measured. Not all structures were able to stand but most of the kids took it in stride and talked about what they would do next time.  This gave me the idea to do this project again at the end of the year.  The students thought this would be a good idea also.  Each thought they would do better a second time because of what they learned doing the challenge this time, mistakes and all.   Well isn't that what art is all about.
  
We also created our first audio podcast.  It was so much fun.  Many students didn't know what a podcast was but now are very interested in making more.  Podcasting after the challenge was over really made them reflect on what they had learned.  Hip, Hip, Hooray for podcasting.  The kids were better at it than I was.  I learned that I must speak slower, come up better questions... (why? how?)  and just let the kids talk.  I also need to listen to answers and not worry about time.  I was definitely rushing this podcast.  I'm also just learning how to edit audio podcasts and hopefully I will get better at that as we go along.  I am using Aviary's Myna to do the podcasting.  It's really quite easy I just need time to figure out all of the possibilities.  The students were asking if they could listen to their podcasts on iTunes so that's my next quest.  Any advice let me know.

Please visit my other blog  KB...Konnected  for more information on "The Marshmallow Challenge" and for my "creative finds" for art, writing and educational technology integration.

Here are a few clips from of our first "Near North Art Party" audio podcast.  
Click on the arrows to listen to our audio Podcasts.  Enjoy!

Part 1 The Marshmallow Challenge 

mc1.egg on Aviary.


Part 2 The Marshmallow Challenge

Marshmallow Challenge.egg on Aviary.

                                                      A few photos of the "Challenge" results.

  

This is the blog I will be using when school starts... tomorrow for me, next Tuesday for the kids.  I'm looking forward to posting some fantastic student art work here this year.

In the meantime check out KB...Konnected  for my "creative finds" for art, writing and educational technology.