1st week of the 2026-27 school year

The 2026-27 school year is here! It is always so great to see staff, get the classroom ready and plan lessons during our prep days.

We started the school year with our beginning of the year collaborative artwork with 2nd, 3rd 4th, 5th grades and our ESN students. This year, we looked at Athangudi tiles from Tamil Nadu, India for inspiration and discussed how every tile was colorful, with beautiful patterns and had symmetry or asymmetry. These tiles are handmade and artists use cement and sand to create them. We also looked at a video on how these tiles are created! Students commented on how it was so satisfying to watch the process!

Each class came to me for 50 minutes. I go over the class expectations quickly first. Students used 3” neon card stock to fold in different ways shapes, arranged and glued them on a 6” black square. Each class had a different color combination as shown below. It is always exciting to see how the art gets bigger each day.

Once done, we used white school glue to glue the individual squares on a 24“ x 36“ black heavyweight construction paper. I installed the work in our auditorium where it will be until Celebration of Art in April 2027!

Weeks of 5/11/26 and 5/18/26 - Last rotation with 2nd and 3rd grades

 Our 2nd and 3rd graders' last rotation for the school year and yes, this year has gone by way too quickly!

2nd graders created art inspired by the Carlsbad flower fields. I love that I can use a San Diego spot as an example for students and it's always fun to hear students talk about visiting this spot and that it's on the way to Legoland!

I first showed students a photo of the fields and we had a class discussion about what we notice and wonder. We noticed how objects, people and place appear smaller as move farther away from us. We also noticed how the colors seem to fade away. I introduced the words one point perspective, horizon and vanishing point.

Students first created a horizontal line for the horizon, then a vanishing point with pencil on a 9"x12" watercolor paper. Once done, they used a ruler to connect the vanishing point to the sides and bottom edge of the paper. They then used a brown crayon to trace the lines and a variety of colors for the flowers using organic shapes that became smaller as they moved towards the horizon. Next class, they continued working on the flowers, added white clouds with crayon and used watercolors to create the grass and sky to complete their work.

Students created flower fields on their Chromebook using the Chrome Canvas website but using a different technique involving horizontal rows of flowers rather than diagonal rows. It is always interesting to see the details each students adds!

3rd graders worked on a teapot still life following the success of the fruit still from our last rotation. I showed them my collection of teapots and how the handle, spout, teapot shape and the lid shape can vary between the different teapots. We worked step by step and used construction paper crayons to create highlights, shadows and the table line.

During our last class, students recreated the teapot on their Chromebooks using the Chrome canvas website. It was interesting for them to compare their teapot art on paper with their digital work.

Weeks of 4/27/26 and 5/4/26 - 5th and last rotation with UTK, K and 1st grades

 Last rotation with UTK, kinders and first graders!

UTK students created digital art on iPads after I read the story "Harold and The Purple Crayon" by Crockett Johnson. Students used the Freeform app on iPads, a tool and color of their choice to draw what they might see if they went on a walk like Harold in the story. I did not a chance to take photos and remember them being amazing!

Kinders and 1st graders created a flower after I read them the book "The Tiny Seed" by Eric Carle. The story is interesting and the illustrations are incredible! Students received a long piece of posterboard, a change from the usual 9"X12" paper we typically use. I gave each student a circular lid to trace the center of the flower with pencil, draw large petals and then the stem and leaves. It is interesting to see how students use this new space on paper! Some students drew tiny petals, and I encouraged them to go BIG! They then traced the pencil lines with gold markers and used color pencils to color the different parts and add details!

Kinders and 1st graders also created digital art on iPads. I read the book "In my Heart" book by Jo Witek to kinders that beautifully explores associating different colors with different emotions. Each student drew a heart using the Freeform app and a variety of tools and used colors they felt explained how their heart was feeling.

I read the book "Cupcake" by Charise Mericle Harper to 1st graders. After listening to the story, students used the Freeform app on iPads to design a front cover for this book using the various tools available.

Weeks of April 6th and April 13th - 5th and last rotation with 4th and 5th grades

 Last rotation with 4th and 5th grade students!

4th graders returned for our last classes together. During the first two classes, they worked on the paper square challenge. This was a lesson I saw Blick host while at the NAEA conference a few years back. I gave each table a stack of 3-inch cardstock squares in different colors and the challenge was to see how students can alter each square by ripping, cutting, folding, curling etc. to change the way it looks. I love this lesson because it given students the chance to explore a variety of techniques. Ad they finished, Students glued their squares on a 9"X12" black cardstock paper.

5th graders painted their clay paintbrushes that I fired in the kiln. Students used left over mural paint for this, and it was a great way to use up what was left after the mural painting. I love the variety in the design and colors! I had made a hole on the handle while they were still wet, and students used a pipe cleaner to string through it.

5th graders also used a variety of ways to alter a paper square by cutting, folding, curling and other techniques. This was a one class lesson, so 5th grade students worked on 9 squares instead of 12 like the 4th graders.

Weeks of 3/2/26 and 3/9/26 - 5th rotation with 2nd and 3rd graders

 2nd and 3rd graders returned and it's always wonderful to see how much they have grown in art and how willing they are in participating in class discussions compared to the beginning of the school year. They know to look at the visual supports, sentence starters and the word wall for assistance to use it in their answers.

2nd graders created artwork inspired by Louise Nevelson. Students engaged in a partner talk while looking at several examples of her work and then a class discussion. We discussed how Nevelson’s sculptures began as collections of discarded wooden furniture and tools which she reassembled in dynamic compositions of shapes and patterns, rhythms and accents. We discussed the word "assemblage" and how Nevelson called herself the first "recycler".

During our first class, students glued different objects of their choice such as wooden pieces, blocks, metal lids and cardboard pieces on a 9"X12" cardboard using while school glue. During the next class, they painted one color of their choice on the cardboard and objects. The painting part took almost an entire class as I encouraged them to keep turning the cardboard and make sure there was paint on the cardboard, inside the crevices and all the sides of each object.

3rd graders created art inspired by the Mola art from Panama. We looked at the vibrant colors, the layering of the fabrics, repetition and patterns in the work. Students selected a 12" X 18" warm or cool color construction paper first. I had two templates for them to select - a bird or butterfly. They used the opposite color (warm/cool) to trace and cut their image from the template and glue on the 12" X 18" paper. They then used construction paper scraps to cut, layer and glue on top of their image and do the same around. 

This took us close to 3 classes to complete. I would reduce the size of the paper next year to a 12" square or a 9"X12" paper base. The 12"X18" was too big for students, and several gave me the feedback to reduce the size. Here are some students' artworks!

Week of March 16th- 5th Grade Legacy Mural painting

 

5th grade Legacy mural painting week! Every year I feel so fortunate and grateful that I get to facilitate this amazing experience for our fifth graders!

This year we were inspired by Ashley Mary who is a Minnesota native and is a multi-disciplinary artist, muralist, and designer who splits her time between Des Moines, Iowa and Minneapolis. Ashley’s work is defined by a signature whimsical shape and pattern language. Whether she is composing an intimate collage or a large-scale environmental mural, her work maintains a consistent visual through-line that celebrates color, playful patterns, organic form, and the "perfectly imperfect." Each 5th graders looked at several examples of Ashley's work, designed 1-3 shapes on the Chrome canvas website and submitted them on Google classroom. I then selected 13 students' design and invited them back to work in 3 groups to create a final design and selected the below design as the one to be painted across from room 61.

I was on site by 4:15 on a Saturday morning to project and trace the design created by a very talented group of 5th graders and finished tracing the design by 6:30 am. I can’t wait for the 5th graders to paint next week! Every 5th grader will get a hold of paintbrush and contribute to the mural! A meaningful way to leave their positive mark before they move onto middle school!

There was so much excitement this week!  5th grade classes painted in five groups all week! It was wonderful to explain and demonstrate the process and watch our students paint. It was also lovely how the 3rd and 4th grade students watched and complimented them! 

I go over the safety procedures in detail with each group and let students know that SAFETY IS OUR #1 PRIORITY!!

I first show students the final mural design on the wall and explain what colors go where. I print several color copies of the mural design and tape them on the wall. I explain how the paint we are using is exterior house paint and that it won’t fade quickly, chip, flake off.

Here are the mural painting guidelines.

4. Go up and down the ladder without holding the paint. I will hold and hand the paint to you.

5. Only I get to move the ladder. Do not shake the ladder, turn, or engage in sudden movements.

6. Paint a small area at a time and ensure you are covering all the white spots instead of trying to get a LOT done. Stand back and see if you have missed any spots.

7. Dip the brush in paint lightly and paint. Use brush sideways along design edges.

8. Once done, leave the paintbrush in the soapy solution.

9. Wash your hands if you get paint, DO NOT rub on your clothes. These won’t come off from clothes.

10. 
    

Here are photos to show the day to day progression and the final mural! I am SO proud of our 5th graders!!!

Day 1

Day 4

Day 5

Weeks of 2/16/26 and 2/23/26 - 4th rotation with UTK, kindergarten and 1st graders

 UTK students created artwork inspired by Wassily Kandinsky. We looked at several examples of his work, discussed how he layered several colors in a circular shape incorporating repetition.  I gave each student a 12-inch cardstock and 4 5-inch squares. Students glued them on the paper and then used other 5-inch squares, trimmed them so they would fit inside the original square and repeated this process until there were 4 squares glued on top of each other on 4 corners of the paper.

Kinders created "dhurries" from paper. Dhurries are movable rugs made in India and incorporate bright colors and geometric patterns. Students used a glue stick to tape strips of brightly colored paper on a 9"X12" cardstock. They then used Sharpie markers to create shape and line patterns and completed their work by cutting 2 strips of white construction paper to add a fringes at both ends to mimic the yarn fringe in dhurries.

1st graders created mobiles inspired by the mobiles of Alexander Calder! This is my first year implementing this lesson and I am so happy with the results! During the first class I read the book, "Sandy's Circus" by Tanya Lee Stone. It gave students an insight into his life, inspiration and works! Students created 4 organic shapes on a 9"X12" piece of construction paper and add 2 layers inside each shape in different colors.

During the next class they cut out their 4 shapes. I also had a 6-inch cardboard piece with 1 hole in each corner for each student. I showed each student how to insert a 12-inch pipe cleaner in each hole, twist it, add 4 beads and insert and twist their shape. They also added a 24-inch pipe cleaner into 2 diagonal holes so their mobiles can be hung.