September 27, 2007
Fifth Graders Enrich Native American Studies by Examining Historical and Modern Artworks
During Social Studies classes, the students in Mrs. Hoddick's and Mr. Black's classrooms have been using historical and modern artworks to dig deeper into their studies on Native Americans. For example, this painting by Navajo Steven Jon Yazzie illustrates the artist's opinion and interpretation of the relocation and removal of the Navajo peoples in the 1800s. This painting is a small section of a 160-foot-wide mural titled Fear of a Red Planet: Relocation and Removal 2000. The mural is located at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona.For discussion, the students used a "deconstruction method" to analyze the information in the painting. Students discussed the facial expressions, body language of the figures, symbols, and color to interpret how Mr. Yazzie feels about this event in history.
The students discussed:
- The tree-like legs and roots of the Native American man and woman on the right represent how they are being pulled up from their homeland. (The child doesn't have roots because he hasn't yet grown to be a strong part of the community. He is still learning the stories of his parents.)
- The flaming sword, muskets, crushed bones, black horse, and red background represent destruction and death that is moving in from the left of the picture
- The Native American man is angry and wants to fight back to keep the land, but the woman is holding him back either to protect him or because she thinks it's better to solve the conflict peacefully.
- The invaders are either British or American soldiers from the Civil War era because of their blue uniforms.
- The horses are scared.
- The blue color represents calmness or peace.
- The blue dress and turquoise jewelry (belt) that the woman is wearing show us that she is Navajo
The students also discussed ideas about the painting such as:
- How would this painting look different if it had been painted by a descendant of the soldiers instead of a descendant of the Navajo people? The students thought that the painting might show the soldiers standing next to their horses with a peaceful blue background while they offer a treaty to sign. They also thought that maybe the Native Americans would be dressed in war clothing and body paint, holding spears, to make them look more savage or angry.
- Is Mr. Yazzie being fair in the way he is depicting the event? Using critical thinking skills, the students determined that it isn't possible for the sword to be on fire, so there must be other things in the painting that are exaggerated or untrue.
Posted at 3:57 PM| Permalink
September 18, 2007
Ms. Byrne's Class is "Pumped" to Work as a Team!
I am proud to report that Ms. Byrne's third and fourth grade class has demonstrated an impressive ability to work as a team. Without hesitation, the students developed a system of "painting helpers." The painting helpers guided and taught other students to cover the large canvas stretchers with primer paint. They helped each other to spot uncovered areas of the canvas and encouraged each other to use proper techniques. The students enjoyed the challenge to have everyone finish before the end of class as they posed with "pumped" faces and raced against the clock. Great work, everyone, and keep up the excellent organization and teamwork! Posted at 3:43 PM| Permalink
September 13, 2007
Third and Fourth Graders Search for Painting Ideas
Each student has already built a 16 inch by 16 inch framed canvas on which to paint. In order to find ideas for the canvases, the third and fourth graders have been going on excursions. The children have visited the middle school campus and the Mid-Pacific Institute botanical nursery. Our next excursion will be a trip to Manoa Falls!
The children are working hard to draw from their observation of people, objects, and images in books. The Smartboard has proved itself to be an invaluable research tool and an excellent image-transferring tool.
In the above images, C.S. draws a fern while visiting the MPI nursery and B.O. uses charcoal to draw a friend sitting across from her. In the image to the right, S.H. receives help from classmates E.S. and A.S. to trace the outlines of a black-crowned night heron. One class has decided to focus their paintings on the native and alien bird species of Hawaii. Some students are paying particular attention to the endangered birds of the island.
Be sure to check the Art Photo gallery to the right to view more images of the students' ideas thus far.
Posted at 3:03 PM| Permalink
September 12, 2007
First- and Second-Graders Welcome Mrs. Tracey Stewart!
The first- and second-grade students in Mrs. Bailie's and Mrs. LeBlanc's classes have welcomed Mrs. Tracey Stewart to our Mid-Pacific community. Mrs. Stewart comes to us as a student teacher in the art house and plans to stay with our community throughout the year. She has extensive experience in ceramics, substitute teaching, and working with home-schooled children in the arts. Her other interests include sewing, costume design, and dramatic play.
Mrs. Stewart comes to us from Chaminade University with an unyielding respect for the childrens' development of character, social skills, and creative expression. Please join me in welcoming Mrs. Tracey Stewart to our community; she provides a valuable service to our school!
Posted at 4:16 PM| Permalink
September 10, 2007
Fliers from 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Open House
Thanks again, everyone, for attending the third, fourth, and fifth grade open house. And a special thanks to fourth-grader Sachi Clark and our Admissions Director, Ella Browning, for demonstrating to parents the "plexi-glass technique of tracing from real life."Again, please follow these links to the fliers from open house. Aloha.
Third & Fourth Grade Flier
Fifth Grade Flier
Posted at 8:36 AM| Permalink