First days

Today is the first day of school in northern Virginia!  I'm ready to meet my new crop of students and begin an eventful and creative year.  

I hung this chalkboard sign inside my classroom.  Students see it as they leave the art room because it's right by the exit door.  Hopefully it makes them pause and consider how to tackle the day.

Have a great week,

sc

Art room blog

So...I had a blog on edublogs called imadepurple.edublogs.org that displayed artwork my students created.  I loved the layout and how it was spam free but,...I ran out of free space.  Instead of paying a monthly fee I decided to create a new blog on wordpress called mrscuster.wordpress.com.  This will be a place my students can go to view artwork, submit extra credit, and also check homework assignments.  If you would like to keep tabs on what I do in my art room please follow MrsCuster and/or save it in your google reader.  Hopefully it provides a shared space for projects and elementary art experiences.

Thanks for supporting school art programs,

sc

Grade 6: Landscape painting

My sixth grade students created these compositions after our discussion on land development.  I asked them, “What does our community need?” and, “What kinds of development would make our community better?”  They had their choice between recreational, commercial, commemorative, or residential development.
This lesson was part of our county’s sixth grade fine art assessment.  I think they did a great job.  Can you guess which type of land development they painted?

You can check out the rest here at imadepurple.edublogs.org

sc

Grade 4: Virginia Regions

My fourth grade class painted landcapes featuring a Virginia region.  We discussed how Virginia is made up of mountains, beaches, marshes, and plains.  Each student designed a composition of a region they’ve been to in Virginia or would like to visit.  I especially like how they practiced several painting techniques by filling in the foreground, middleground, and background.  Head to imadepurple.edublogs.org to see more.

sc

1st Grade: A special family member

My grandpa that passed away, by Angelo J.

My first graders drew a portrait of someone special in their family, then added a frame full of pattern to complete the composition.  I posted their drawings here at imadepurple.edublogs.org. 

p.s. how much do you love this one?

sc

Elementary art blog

In an effort to display more elementary art projects, I started a side project called "I made purple."  My hope is it becomes a forum, available to my students -and their families - to view and comment on their artwork.  It will also be a place for kids to submit artwork for special digital exhibitions - but that's an idea not yet developed.  

I chose edublogs as my host server and am liking it so far.  I'm able to work on it during the day because it passes my school's tech blocks and securities.  Anyone out there have edublog tips they want to share?  I made a blogger account just in case I want a change.  

Hope you enjoy, and thank you for supporting school art programs,

sc

Lovely note

Gift from a second grader. She gave me specific directions: Wear the mask and look through the hole. Love it.

Paint day

Aka. Wear old pants day.