Hours 5 and 6

On this visit I was once again present for a first grade and fourth grade class.  The first grade class was starting a new project, Matisse inspired paper cutouts.  The teacher had a power point prepared that illustrated the life of Matisse and showed examples of his paper cutouts.  The presentation was much more than a dissertation of facts about Matisse's life and work.  Mrs. A narrated the life of Matisse in away the children could understand.  She segued into the project by including Matisse's cutout of Icarus.  She told the story of Icarus, she was very animated during her story and the kids just loved it.  The actual art making was very step by step.  Students were first asked to draw a stick figure falling and then we went around the room and drew skin on the figures (outlined).  The kids cut around the outlines and were then given more paper to glue their stick figure onto.  The student were asked to finish cutting out their shapes from a piece of paper before they were given more paper.

The fourth graders had been given the background information and demonstrations the week before.  Mrs. A reminded the students of some of the most important highlights from the previous weeks.  The students were then dismissed to their tables to work on the project which was plaster paper masks.  The students were each given a mask mold to lay plaster paper over.  There were a few students missing so to keep them from falling behind I created some extra masks and any students that finished early were asked to create extra masks or help their friends.  The hour went very quickly and for the most part smoothly.  The teacher for the class was late picking up the students from the art class.  This seems to be a chronic problem.  It makes things a little difficult for Mrs. All though because when a teacher is late picking up students from the art room it cuts into her time to set up for the following class.