Words and Images: Poetry

Today we continued looking at the relationship between poetry and imagers. We read a lighter poem by Jack Prelutsky, called "Philbert Phlurk"

Philbert Phlurk

By Jack Prelutsky

The major quirk of Philbert Phlurk

was tinkering al day, 

inventing things that didn't work, 

a scale that wouldn't weigh,

a pointless pen that couldn't write,

a score of silent whistles,

a bulbless lamp that wouldn't light,

a toothbrush with no bristles.

He built a chair without a seat,

a door that wouldn't shut,

a cooking stove that didn't heat,

a knife that couldn't cut.

He proudly crafted in his shop

a wheel that wouldn't spin,

a sweepless broom, a mop less mop,

a stringless violin.

He made a millin useless things

like clocks with missing hands,

like toothless combs and springless springs

and stretchless rubber bands.

When Phlurk was through with something new

he'd grin and say with glee,

"I know this doesn't work for you,

but ah, it works for me."

Following the same pattern as last class, we read through the poem a few times and then identified and defined words we didn't know.

Next, each student selected a stanza or part of a stanza that they would like to draw - because this particular poem is so full of imagery, students were encouraged to focus on a particular portion.

Lastly, the 3rd and 4th graders wrote the line or lines from the poem that inspired their drawings.

Food

Today's assignment was, "draw yourself if you were made out of food." The students had a lot of fun with this prompt, and came up with some creative self-portraits. 

First we drew a stick figure on the board, paying close attention to the shape of each part of the body - for the head, we brainstormed other round food, for the arms oblong foods, etc. 

Enjoy these unique portraits!

Introduction to Words and Images

Today the 3rd and 4th grade began their new unit - Words and Images. 

This unit will focus on the relationship between words and images in art. We will incorporate poetry, music, and modern artists who all work with words and visual art in some way. 

The next few classes we will work with poetry, analyzing poems and drawing our responses to them. We began today's class with a poem by William Carlos Williams called "Blizzard"

"Blizzard"

By William Carlos Williams 

Snow falls:

years of anger following

hours that float idly down --

the blizzard

drifts its weight

deeper and deeper for three days

or sixty years, eh? Then

the sun! a clutter of 

yellow and blue flakes --

Hairy looking trees stand out

in long alleys

over a wild solitude.

The man turns and there --

his solitary track stretched out

upon the world.

After reading the poem a few times, students identified and defined words they didn't know. Next, we put the poem in to our own words, selecting strong images and talking about the poet's choice of words.

Lastly, students were asked to draw images they found in the poem.

Food: Everybody Brings Noodles!

We began class by brainstorming types of noodles. Lasagna, Pad Thai, Lo Mein, Kugel, Macaroni and Cheese… the 1st and 2nd graders soon realized that there are many types of noodles from all over the world.

We read "Everybody Brings Noodles" by Norah Dooley, a story about a multicultural neighborhood each preparing their favorite noodle dish for a town fair. 

While we read, we worked on our own pasta pictures, focusing on patterns and shapes. Students made pasta patterns of concentric circles, squares, or stripes.

Women Artists: Art Show Prep

Today the 3rd and 4th grade finished their written tours for tomorrow's art show.

Please join us tomorrow evening in the Common Room!

Food

Today the 1st and 2nd grade continued their study of food.

After brainstorming different fruits and vegetables, each student selected their favorite fruit or vegetable from the list. They received watercolor paper and sketched a simple fruit or vegetable on a plate.

Next, they painted the fruit or vegetable using a 'wet on dry' watercolor technique (painting wet watercolor on dry paper) to make the fruit or vegetable bold and bright. 

The last step was to use a 'wet on wet' watercolor technique (painting wet watercolor on wet paper). Students lightly wet the background of the picture, then used a small amount of paint to create a light wash.

Women Artists: Art Show Prep

The 3rd and 4th grade art show is next Thursday, April 10th. 

In order to prepare, the 3rd and 4th graders worked hard on preparing written tours for their guests. 

They reflected on their favorite projects and worked together to recall facts.