What's New With Pre-K Students!

Pre-K students enjoy discovering the world around them through the lens of art.  This year we studied line, shape, color and made a variety of projects.  Some of our lessons include:

• Discovering different kinds of lines: curvy, straight, zigzag
• Discovering how lines can come together to make shapes
• Discovering what texture means by looking at artwork from                       our traveling museum
• Looking at masks from different cultures
• Making egg head people with real eggs for heads with grass hair that grows

What's New With Third Grade Artists!

A sample of some of our exciting third grade projects:

• Ceramic self portraits with colorful bodies and clothing
• Ceramic clay wall hangings
• Pattern painting on 3-D cardboard
• Valentines
• Yantras, based on Ms. Vaux's trip to India
• Architectural drawings
• Pop up cards based on animal designs

Third grade starts off the year with several project that helps us flex our artistic muscles. Thinking about our word of the month,"Friendship", the third grade looks in mirror and creates self portraits. 

During the fall months the "Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration" takes place across North America . Over 50,000 U.S.A. and Canadian students create thousands of paper butterflies that will migrate to their counterparts in Mexico for the winter. SSA Art, Spanish, Science and Computer team up with our SSA third grade students to participate in this exciting symbolic migration. ¡Adiós mariposas!

What's New With Fourth Grade Artists!

Fourth grade starts off the year by making Inverse Paper Cut Outs.  This project never fails to intrigue out SSA Community as they enjoy seeing the variety of shapes and forms the students have used. 

Fourth graders study symmetry and look closely at a variety of autumn leaves found in Pennsylvania.  Their realistic line drawings will be the spring board for other art projects that grace the the Junior School walls.

How can the fourth grade turn straight lines into drawings with curved lines?  Well, to find out, keep an eye out for drawings by the fourth grade that do just this!  Using ruler skills, and thinking about complimentary colors this project combines geometry with beauty.

Other exciting projects included:

• Relief maps of Pennsylvania made from clay and fired in our kiln
• Drawing mannequins and making wire figures
• Quilling, or paper curling
• Parade elephants, based on Ms. Vaux's trip to India
• Making animals out of clay that are fired in our kiln
• Greek vases on paper

What's New With Fifth Grade Artists!

Fifth grade pens beautiful contour line drawings of leaves collected around the school.  These simple drawings capture the details and forms of our Pennsylvania foliage.  I was very impressed that fifth graders were brave enough to use pen to make their designs!

Fifth grade studies Yaacov Agam, an Israeli artist who makes interesting 3-D paintings.  To learn more about Yaacov Agam check out one of his paintings that is in the permanent collection of the Carnegie Museum.

Fifth grade makes ceramic ware that is fired in our kiln and glazed with colorful, durable glazes.

Fifth grade also makes other projects including:

• Drawing our SSA building for our Architecture lesson
• Making an E-Misssions Logo
• Making grid  drawings
• Celtic Knot designs
• Working with water based clay and oil based clay

ANNOUNCEMENTS

WE NEED YOUR HELP

We would like to transform your paper towel and toilet paper tubes into creatures, buildings and other works of art.  At my home I keep a bag in different rooms to collect these tubular treasures!  Then, when the bag is full I bring it into school!

Last year we used our toilet paper tubes and paper towel tubes to make chairs.  So, bring in those tubes! 

ART IS ALL AROUND US

       Many of our projects at Shady Side Academy take advantage of recyclable materials that are given a second life by our eager artists. During my first year here at Shady Side one of the beautiful old buildings in Squirrel Hill was receiving new windows. The old windows stacked up on the sidewalk had all of the charming appeal that is found on many of the do-it-yourself home decorating shows. These "shabby chic" treasures were soon loaded into the trunk of my car, and spirited off to school where they would be given a new life by the fourth grade.

       The project I had in mind was faux stained glass windows with an autumnal theme. For this particular project I used four large windows that had eight panes each. First, the fourth graders drew the different leaves that are found in Pennsylvania including maple, gingko, and oak. Then, these images were transferred onto the glass with "faux" stained glass paint. Mike, from the maintenance crew, was kind enough to hang the windows in the foyer outside of the library.

       Junk that was slated for the garbage dump had been transformed into a cheery stained glass panorama of autumn color!

CREATE YOUR OWN MUSEUM....AT HOME!

     Our SSA artists will be bringing home some beautiful pieces of work this year.  With such bright and cheerful colors and interesting shapes, these objects of art will look beautiful in your own in-home museum!  To create your in-home museum, find a place in your home and rotate the work that will be coming home.  At our house we have selected areas in our living room, dining room, and kitchen.  Our family really enjoys discussing the work that is brought home and looks forward during the year to our changing exhibit.

CREATE YOUR OWN ART STUDIO....AT HOME!

      Create a simple at home art studio that you can use during breaks, and rainy days!  Your "studio" can be as simple as a drawing note book and a pencil hidden away in a special spot.  With these two simple art supplies you can draw pictures, create cartoons and doodle.  Exland your studio to include crayons, or even some paints.  Art stores sell clay that dries hard, or can be baked in your overn.  So, next time you have some free time, don't turn on the television.  Instead, head for your art studio!

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