Unit 4: Celebrations
Studio 1
Artist: Nick Cave
Finger Puppets: Modeling Compound
Finger Puppets: Modeling Compound
Studio 2
Artist: Norman Rockwell
Celebrating 21st Century America: Graphic Design
Celebrating 21st Century America: Graphic Design
Studio 3
Artist: Miriam Schapiro
Artist's Choice
Artist's Choice
Unit 4: Celebrations Reflection
For studio one, we created finger puppets out of modeling clay. The finger puppets were supposed to represent something about us that we could celebrate. I chose to create a sun because I feel like my personality is sunny and bright. I always try to see the best in everything and everyone. Especially as a teacher, I want students to feel my warmth and support. In my own classroom, I would use this activity to talk about celebrations. I think I would change it up a bit to allow students to create any type of object they want out of the clay (not specifically finger puppets). Although, finger puppets can be especially useful as a teaching tool. "Using puppetry in teaching makes for one of the most enjoyable forms of learning for students of all ages." (Cannon, 2012) I would also like to make the activity/lesson more specific such as having them choose a celebration that represents their own culture or a different culture (EX. Cinco de Mayo or Fourth of July) and have them create something that represents that celebration. I could integrate that into social studies by studying the history and culture of specific celebrations.
In the second studio, we created a pamphlet on the computer that advertised an American celebration. I chose the Fourth of July because I feel that it is a celebration that, as Americans, we value. I decided to use an acrostic poem to explain the traditions and the activity that Americans participate in to celebrate our freedom. I think that this would be an excellent activity to incorporate in my own classroom. It is a great way to get students working with technology and is a way for them to see that art can be created in many different ways. Depending on the grade level and the amount of computers/technology available, I may have students work in groups to create their advertisement. I would also have a discussion about Norman Rockwell and how he can be an inspirational artists for this activity. I would share with my students that, "Norman Rockwell (American, 1894–1978) is best known for his images of
everyday American life... His illustrations were extremely popular in his lifetime and were seen across America in books, advertisements, calendars, and popular magazines... His paintings provide a window into twentieth-century American life." (Giardina, Fairchild & Atkins, 2010)
The third and final studio of the semester was artist's choice. Artist's choice was a chance for us to choose whatever we wanted to create. I chose to use paper and oil pastels to create a drawing that represents diversity. I believe it is extremely important to celebrate diversity and cultures within the classroom. In my own classroom, I would use an artist's choice day to wrap up a unit. I think students would really enjoy being able to make their own choice about what they want to create. I would be sure to make rules clear and easy to follow. I would reinforce that their artist choice piece must be something that relates to the topic we are learning about.
I thoroughly enjoyed this unit. Each studio was clearly focused on celebrations. Each studio also allowed us to represent celebrations in a fun, creative, and different way. I would love to incorporate a unit like this into my future classroom.
References
Cannon , P. (2012). Using puppetry as a teaching tool. Retrieved from http://www.brighthubeducation.com/teaching-preschool/109274-using-puppets-in-teaching/?cid=parsely_rec
Giardina, N., Fairchild, A. & Atkins, S. M. (2010). Norman rockwell: Behind the camera Retrieved from http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/
norman_rockwell/uploads/Rockwell_Teachers_Packet.pdf
In the second studio, we created a pamphlet on the computer that advertised an American celebration. I chose the Fourth of July because I feel that it is a celebration that, as Americans, we value. I decided to use an acrostic poem to explain the traditions and the activity that Americans participate in to celebrate our freedom. I think that this would be an excellent activity to incorporate in my own classroom. It is a great way to get students working with technology and is a way for them to see that art can be created in many different ways. Depending on the grade level and the amount of computers/technology available, I may have students work in groups to create their advertisement. I would also have a discussion about Norman Rockwell and how he can be an inspirational artists for this activity. I would share with my students that, "Norman Rockwell (American, 1894–1978) is best known for his images of
everyday American life... His illustrations were extremely popular in his lifetime and were seen across America in books, advertisements, calendars, and popular magazines... His paintings provide a window into twentieth-century American life." (Giardina, Fairchild & Atkins, 2010)
The third and final studio of the semester was artist's choice. Artist's choice was a chance for us to choose whatever we wanted to create. I chose to use paper and oil pastels to create a drawing that represents diversity. I believe it is extremely important to celebrate diversity and cultures within the classroom. In my own classroom, I would use an artist's choice day to wrap up a unit. I think students would really enjoy being able to make their own choice about what they want to create. I would be sure to make rules clear and easy to follow. I would reinforce that their artist choice piece must be something that relates to the topic we are learning about.
I thoroughly enjoyed this unit. Each studio was clearly focused on celebrations. Each studio also allowed us to represent celebrations in a fun, creative, and different way. I would love to incorporate a unit like this into my future classroom.
References
Cannon , P. (2012). Using puppetry as a teaching tool. Retrieved from http://www.brighthubeducation.com/teaching-preschool/109274-using-puppets-in-teaching/?cid=parsely_rec
Giardina, N., Fairchild, A. & Atkins, S. M. (2010). Norman rockwell: Behind the camera Retrieved from http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/
norman_rockwell/uploads/Rockwell_Teachers_Packet.pdf