Thursday, May 9, 2013

Spaghetti Tower

With ISTEP week among us, we have had crazy schedules and extremely long classes. To eliminated grade levels passing in the halls while others are testing, we had class today for 2:45 minutes (yikes)! Surprisingly the kids were awesome. We silently read Hunger Games, completed an ISTEP practice exersise and then completed the Marshmellow, Spaghetti Tower Challenge.

Here is the activity:

  • The students divided into groups.
  • Each group received equall parts Marshmellows and uncooked spaghetti.
  • The students were then instructed to create the tallest tower possible.

Below are the tower attempts! Many collapsed in the last few minutes but overall it was a great activity.

 

 

Art Club's Sidewalk Chalk Art

Today was such a gorgeous day to not take advantage of the weather! The 6th, 7th and 8th grade art club members finished their wire sculpture figures early so with the remainder of our time, Art Club created sidewalk chalk art.


 

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

American Gothic Parodies


 
 
8th grade I.U. team artists studied the art work of Grant Wood. To kick off the lesson, students are introduced to the life and work of Grant Wood with a powerpoint that I created. The students then created parodies based on the artwork American Gothic. The students were given free reign with themes and subject matter.
I tell all students that when I am grading, I am looking for two figures in the foreground dressed similar to the figures in the original American Gothic. One figure must be holding something; however, it does not have to be a pitch fork. I am looking that both of the figures eyes are looking in the correct direction and that most importantly I can see the gothic window in the background.

 
 
I do this lesson every year and I am always impressed by the creativity of my 8th graders!