Kindergarten Firetrucks

For fire prevention week I had my little ones make these great firetrucks.

READ! IMAGINE! CREATE!!!

This year our school is looking at the effects of reading aloud on student achievement. So I will be having my students do some reading (and getting read too) in the art room. Last fall I read a book called the "Read Aloud Handbook." There are studies referenced in the book that prove that children who are read too score better on standardized tests. So I asked my classes, "how many of you are read to at home?" Some of my kindergartner's raised their hands, none of my 5th graders did. So This year we getting the message out that reading to kids is fun and good for them. The more you read, the more you know, the more you know, the more you grow. So you will see lots of my lessons are inspired by Children's literature this year.

New Art for the Helen DeVos Children's hospital

My first and second graders are having so much fun making their large paintings, I had to share them with you. We are in the process of making 36 new paintings for the new Helen DeVos Children's hospital.


My students came up with ideas for paintings of things that make them happy. Then we used our document camera and projector to enlarge the 8.5x11 inch drawings on to large sheets of paper. Then they choose a team to help them paint their design. Each class was responsible for making 6 paintings.

My Matisse

My second graders looked at the art work of Henri Matisse and created these wonderful cut outs.

I am the biggest thing in the Ocean

There is always someone bigger and better, but that should not stop you from trying to do your best which is the moral of the story "I am the Biggest Thing in the Ocean" After my first graders heard the story we painted these giant squid.

Second Grade Coil Pots

My second graders learned how to create their coil pots. They enjoyed hearing about the coil pots that Juan Quezada built. We read the book "The Pot That Juan Built" prior to making our own beautiful coil pots.

It Is Clay Time!

Fresh out of the kiln.

3rd graders have been making these super cute trees. They start out as pointy pinch pots then they add the details. If you like these check out Mrs. Brouwer's cool trees! http://josettebrouwer.edublogs.org/2010/12/01/clay-projects-continue-2/