Funny Fold-up Faces - an instant sub idea!

Sometimes you've got to think fast.  Today I subbed in my former classroom.  The teacher has been out for a couple of weeks, for surgery, and is coming back tomorrow.  She luckily has had a terrific sub, but the sub was not available today. The teacher had left extensive plans for the sub, with multiple projects per grade level.  The sub had, in turn, left sticky notes all over the plans, explaining what had been completed and what was left to be done.  But I couldn't understand the instructions for 2nd and 3rd grade, who both had class today.  It looked like she had completed the lessons for them, and for one class, said to follow the plans "in the folder".  WHAT FOLDER???  I couldn't find it. For the other grade, she had left materials for a project that wasn't in the original lesson plans at all, and I couldn't find any introduction to the project to explain to the kids why/what they were doing.  So I texted the teacher (not the sub), who said it was OK if I could come up with something to do just for the one day.  

 

I grabbed some paper and crayons and made some quickie samples for funny fold-up faces.  The paper was folded so that the top and the bottom met in the middle, and a face was drawn on the folded paper (pic at the top of the post).  Then, the bottom was opened out, and a new mouth, chin, and face bottom were drawn attaching to the top part. Then it was closed again, and the top was opened out and new eyes and top of head were drawn to connect to the bottom.  (These are the two pics above.)  And finally, the top and bottom were both opened, and below is the face that appeared. 

Here's another sample.  First is the original face drawn on the folded paper. 

And below, I've added a new set of eyes, and next to it, a new mouth. 

And finally, the whole newly created face.  Remember, these are quickie samples. 

I didn't take pictures of the silly faces that the students made, but they were totally adorable!  There were cat faces, skeleton faces, clown faces, pretty ladies, angry aliens, men in top hats and bow ties, and so much more.  So thankful that it was successful, and I hope that, when the teacher is back in the classroom, that she is easily able get the kids back on track with what she has intended for them to do! 

Busy girl; random thoughts on painting prep and more

I've been busy, and as a result have been a very bad blogger.  

'Gulliver' - installation at SUNY New Paltz

I may be retired, but somehow I seem to fill up my calendar ridiculously fast.  Between teaching my weekly after school class (I currently have just three students), and enjoying the magnificent autumn, and prepping for four (yes, four; I'm insane) workshop presentations at my state conference next month, and working on sewing projects and beading projects, attending meetings for this and that, and prepping and freezing the remnants of our garden, and attending my 40th college reunion, and subbing a couple of days ago for the gal who replaced me, it's a wonder I have any time to do anything else, but, on top of it all, today I attended my first Beginner's Yiddish class (and I think I'm in WAY over my head), and somehow I still find time to eat too much, sleep (not enough), read, watch trashy reality TV, exercise (once in a while, anyhow), and figure out how to use my new laptop.

Below, a few views of SUNY New Paltz, my alma mater, 40 years after graduating

Wow.  I'm tired just re-reading what I wrote in the run-on sentence/paragraph above.   If you didn't quit reading after the exhausting first paragraph, I actually do have some things to share.

 

 Above and below, views from the Tang Museum at Skidmore College.  That's me above wearing stripes.  The cups in the pool made awesome sounds as they bumped into each other.  And the work below?  Look at all those matches!  Cool, or what?!?

Anyhooo  - A couple of days ago I subbed in my former classroom.  She warned me ahead of  time that her schedule is so crazy that she was afraid that after I subbed once I would never return.  And yes, the day was pretty zany, but I had a great time and will be happy to come back.  My former students treat me like a celebrity when they see I'm in the room, even after 2 years.  But when I came home, I felt half dead.  My voice was shot, and so were my feet.  Luckily, we had reservations at the local dinner-and-a-movie place, where we saw The Judge (excellent) and had a nice dinner while we watched, that I did not have to cook. 

But about subbing - I'm prepping a workshop for the NAEA conference in New Orleans this spring, called Designing Your Program to Say Yes to the Mess (or something like that).  My subbing day definitley helped remind me of certain points I will be sure to make.

• First is what I call 'curriculum choreography'.  Sequence your day and year to make it easier for you to manage the materials of a multiple art classes/grade levels/projects.  For example, while it may SEEM to make sense to have everyone painting on the same day (after all, the brushes and paints are already out), it's really a BAD idea.  Your drying rack will be full with no place to put the wet work after a few classes.  So mix up your day with some grade levels painting and others using dry media that don't require the drying space.  Same thing goes for sculptural work.  If everyone is building something 3-D at the same time, where will you put them?  Mix it up!
• Second, remember that not everyone who paints needs to use a brush that needs to be washed. Paint with old sponge bits, Q-tips, cardboard scraps, cotton balls, and other things that can be tossed in the trash.  Or, if everyone needs to use a brush, put just one color or color family on each table, with brushes that stay with them.  Limit the color choices for the kids to use, or rotate them to different tables.  Brush washing only has to be done when all classes using the paint are done.  And then, make sure the kids wipe the excess paint off the brush and put them into a soaking bucket.
• Maintain a sense of humor.  Spills happen.  But, when the kindergarten students were using liquid watercolors to paint over their crayon pumpkin drawings, I should have thought to put the cups of paint into little trays (I like those little flat black dishes from TV dinners) on each table.  Then, when the paint got knocked over, as it did on 3 tables out of 5, the paint would have gone into the tray, instead of all over the table, and none would have been wasted.  Duh!  I guess I was a little rusty and forgot to do this!

Please note - I do realize my day of subbing was not 'typical'.  Most people do not leave plans for a sub that include four totally different painting projects, each using completely different paints, plus one collage project incorporating sequins and jewels.  But my sub knows me, and knows that I'm  willing and capable, and much prefer this to showing videos all day.  (Yuck.)  At the end of the day, the drying artwork was organized, the paintbrushes were clean (not by me; some early finishing 5th graders volunteered and did exactly what I asked), the tables were clean, and I think the art teacher was satisfied and appreciative.

At the Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs NY

Wow.  I'm tired out from reading what I've written, so I'll show you a few fall photos, and sign off.  In a day or two, I'll be able to share two fun projects done by my DragonWing Art students!  In the meantime, this is enough, I hope, to convince you I'm still blogging. 

 Above and the two pics below are the Betar Walkway/Bikeway along the Hudson River, just a few miles from my home.  The river is just to the left of me in these three photos.  That's hubs in the green jacket.  He evidently doesn't realize that I've stopped to take pictures (which I think I do about every 20 steps).

 

And a little 'wildlife' along the walkway...

Subbing and an almost art show

I subbed today in my former classroom!  The current teacher was busy all day setting up for tomorrow's art show, so I got to spend my day with the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade, all my former students.  It's so much fun to sub there - the kids treat me like a celebrity and are always so excited to see me there.  Lots of hugs!!!

And lucky me - I had a really fun day.  The 4th graders folded paper into 6th's and painted each square to become a different scoop of ice cream - actually, five scoops, and one square for the cone.  I look forward to seeing these when they are complete!  Because I know the kids and love painting with them,the teacher let me decide how to set it up and I was happy with the way the kids painted.  Not sure that the colors are true in these photos, but you get the idea.

 

 

The 5th graders were working on Wayne Thibaud cakes, but I don't have any photos, and the 6th graders were finishing up some work, scrubbing and scraping tables, and sorting markers, as well as helping with the art show setup.

At the end of the day, I stopped in the gym to see how the show setup was going and shot some photos to share with you here.  They were still hanging more work when I left.  (It's a K-13 art show, 2 art teachers; it takes place on school budget vote day, plus there's a concert, too!  Busy day/night in the school!)  The photo above is of course, me.  They have this at the art show for fun photos!  AAAAHHH!!!!

Below, a paper weaving project, I believe 6th grade.

 Next, some mandalas, with a CD in the center, made I think by 4th graders.

 Some construction paper molas by 6th grade.  These are, like authentic molas, a 'reverse applique' method, which means that instead of stacked layers, layers are cut into to reveal layers underneath.

 

 Japanese carp kites.  Not sure of the grade level.  5th grade I think.

 Wampum belt weaving with pony beads, by 4th grade.

 Sailboat painting/collages.  Maybe 2nd or 3rd grade?  Somehow it seems I didn't get any photos from Kindergarten or 1st grade.

 Papier-mache fish - 5th grade? 4th grade?  Not really sure...

 Circular weavings - again, not sure of the grade.

 A high school Studio in Art (9th grade) color harmony project.

 The coolest things ever, these elementary circular weavings on red clay looms (the color looks brown in these photos, but it was really more reddish I think.)

 And a few more random pieces from some secondary students.