Art: Winter Landscape Collages

First graders are learning about how deep space can be created in a landscape, and how texture can add interest in a collage. We have looked at the paintings of Grandma Moses as well as illustrations from children's books. The girls are making collaged winter landscapes with a foreground, middle ground, and background and are showing deep space by changing the scale of objects such as trees. First graders have had some lively discussions about activities they like to do outside in the winter, and have made connections with their classmates over the topic. The final step will be adding action to their winter landscape. 

Art: Material Exploration Abstraction

First graders familiarized themselves with a variety of materials (crayon, colored pencil, and marker) and explored the marks they could make with each tools. Then they used materials of their choice to complete a guided abstraction, following verbal instructions using line and shape vocabulary. For example, they each drew a straight line that touched two edges of the paper. The girls made predictions about how the different materials would interact with watercolor,mans then used watercolor to transform their compositions. Afterward, students compared their artworks, and hypothesized about the source of commonalities and differences. One of the things they discovered is that while their work was guided with verbal instructions, the limited choices they did have resulted in a large variety of expression. Ask your daughter how the materials she used interacted with watercolor, and if it was what she expected. 

Art: Connections

Each grade in the Lower School focuses on a certain theme in art. The theme for first grade is "Connections." First graders reflect on how our creative choices reflect us as individuals and connect us to others.