4th Grade Monet Waterlilies

Monet Impressionism Painting

The 4th grade students learned about the life and artwork of French artist Claude Monet. They learned that he was a famous artist in the art time period of Impressionism (1870-1889). Students learned that Impressionist painters were focused on how the light affected their art. Rather than making art look realistic, Impressionism looks a little out of focus or blurry. Students learned that while creating art Monet would paint the same subject matter over and over but at different times of the day and different times of the year. Students looked at a series of art Monet created about ponds and water lilies and discussed what season or time of day they thought the painting was done. They learned he created hundreds of painting about water lilies. Students were able to create layers of different types of paint using different techniques and colors to create an Impressionist piece of art about water lilies like Monet. Students also created a 3-D tissue paper flower to decorate their water lily.

3rd Grade Clay Flowers

2014 Spring District Art Show

5th Grade Acoma Pottery

Acoma Pottery

5th graders studied the traditional pottery of the Pueblo Native Americans in Art. They learned that the Pueblo create Folk Art, which is art that is past down and learned from generation to generation. Students learned about a few types of Pueblo Pottery called Black on Black Pottery, Storyteller Pottery and Acoma Pottery. They also learned about 3 famous Pueblo Potters Maria Martinez, Lucy Lewis, and Helen Cordero. They used Acoma Pottery as inspiration for their own pottery. The word "Acoma" is from the Acoma and Spanish word Acoma, or Acú, which means "the place that always was" or "People of the White Rock". Acoma pottery dates back to more than 1,000 years ago. Local clay that is dug up at a nearby site is essential to Acoma pottery. The clay is formed into vessels and dried, painted using only black glaze and fired. Geometric patterns are traditional designs and are applied with the spike of a yucca plant. Using clay 5th graders practiced making different styles and shapes of pottery, each student created a collection of 3-5 pieces. Once the pottery was fired and made hard students looked at Acoma Pottery designs and painted patterns and designs with black and clear glaze. The glazed pottery then had to be fired a second time for the glaze to turn into the final black and clear glaze.