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. 

Introduction to Food 

Do Now: Invent a type of food. It could be a fruit or vegetable, a meal or dessert. Draw it and describe it.

Today marked the first day of the spring trimester, and the 1st and 2nd grade started a new unit: food! 

We started off class by listing our favorite types of food. Though most students listed something different, there was some overlap. 

We finished off class with a simple project to get in the food mood - draw your favorite food! 

World Art Show

Tonight, the 1st and 2nd graders hosted their World Art Show. It was amazing! Thank you so much to everyone who came out to support the students. 

Guests arrived between 5pm - 6pm, and were treated to an individual tour around the world by their student. There are a few photos from the event below, but be sure to check here on Harlem Academy's Facebook page for more photos.