“A well-rounded education is simply too vital to our students’ success
to let the teaching of the arts and humanities erode”
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
to let the teaching of the arts and humanities erode”
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
Why is art important?
It is important to look at the learning that goes on in the art classroom as necessary to the development and growth of all students.
In my classroom, students learn how to create an art work from inspiration to exhibition. The learning is in the process. Along the way, students are confronted with challenges, and make mistakes. Students learn that challenges and mistakes are crucial to the process, and the discovery is in the steps they take to deal with these challenges.
The success of a student in art is measured by the journey taken as students attempt to make a visual statement. We present, question, and discuss in our critiques of student work. Students are equipped with strategies to push themselves and their peers to think differently, and go beyond the norm.
In the art making alone, there is so much learning. Students have a place to showcase their incredible imaginations, and a forum to express their emotions. They grow in art.
The model for teaching art in the Ottoson Art Rooms is based on
Studio Thinking Habits:
Click here to read more about this model!
IN ADDITION to the wonderful exploration that happens in artmaking, we make connections to lessons from other subject areas. Here are just a few:
6th - Found object assemblage and Color Theory. Students will explore how to connect objects together in their sculptures and engineer ways to make parts move and stand up, (tech ed, science). Students will take part in a large-scale, collaborative project where they will choose an "icon" to represent in a large portrait made of found materials. We will be looking at the work of Victor Muniz for inspiration. With this process they practice being able to read the grid, (math, tech ed). Students will also be studying color theory and creating their own work using a monochromatic palatte.
Students have to complete an artist statement about their work (ELA/writing).
7th - Students in the 7th Grade are using clay to create "dwellings". These structures can be based on real or imaginary structures, and students will look at the work of Frank Gehry, Richard Serra, and other contemporary examples of clay sculpture for inspiration.
We will also be talking about mass and volume, as well as discuss the effect that water and air have on the firing process. (Science).
8th - Students will be creating two digital art pieces. One will be a mindscape/mixed media piece. We will be looking at past and contemporary surrealist artists. We will then be creating a self-portrait piece in the style of the artist's choice.
In my classroom, students learn how to create an art work from inspiration to exhibition. The learning is in the process. Along the way, students are confronted with challenges, and make mistakes. Students learn that challenges and mistakes are crucial to the process, and the discovery is in the steps they take to deal with these challenges.
The success of a student in art is measured by the journey taken as students attempt to make a visual statement. We present, question, and discuss in our critiques of student work. Students are equipped with strategies to push themselves and their peers to think differently, and go beyond the norm.
In the art making alone, there is so much learning. Students have a place to showcase their incredible imaginations, and a forum to express their emotions. They grow in art.
The model for teaching art in the Ottoson Art Rooms is based on
Studio Thinking Habits:
Click here to read more about this model!
IN ADDITION to the wonderful exploration that happens in artmaking, we make connections to lessons from other subject areas. Here are just a few:
6th - Found object assemblage and Color Theory. Students will explore how to connect objects together in their sculptures and engineer ways to make parts move and stand up, (tech ed, science). Students will take part in a large-scale, collaborative project where they will choose an "icon" to represent in a large portrait made of found materials. We will be looking at the work of Victor Muniz for inspiration. With this process they practice being able to read the grid, (math, tech ed). Students will also be studying color theory and creating their own work using a monochromatic palatte.
Students have to complete an artist statement about their work (ELA/writing).
7th - Students in the 7th Grade are using clay to create "dwellings". These structures can be based on real or imaginary structures, and students will look at the work of Frank Gehry, Richard Serra, and other contemporary examples of clay sculpture for inspiration.
We will also be talking about mass and volume, as well as discuss the effect that water and air have on the firing process. (Science).
8th - Students will be creating two digital art pieces. One will be a mindscape/mixed media piece. We will be looking at past and contemporary surrealist artists. We will then be creating a self-portrait piece in the style of the artist's choice.