Preschool 3's

The children continue their exploration with color and paint in the atelier, while black and white painting remains in the classroom for further discovery.  As the children build on their sensory experiences with paint, they are using their minds to absorb the transformations occurring within the materials.  Although this experience is new and fun and exciting, the children have also taken a great interest in glue and collage in the mini-atelier. 

Through our observations, we have presented the children with materials that resemble Chihuly's artworks.  This week in the atelier, each child was invited to play with straws for a period of time to familiarize themselves with the materials. They placed the straws of different lengths and colors in lines, while others tried to fit straws together or made sounds with the straws by striking the larger straws together.  They were then given a sheet of paper and a bottle of glue to display their thoughts.  As the children began their masterpiece, the thought process was clear and evident from the deliberate placement of straws to the silence in the room as children worked with amazing focus.  We will continue to observe as the children PLAY, invent and discover new ways of working and creating pieces of art with these materials.


Preschool 4's

As the children continue their observational drawings, they struggle with the challenge of learning to recycle materials (mostly paper) within the classroom.  Some students have spent time in the atelier gathering paper-like materials that can be used and recycled within the classroom's mini-atelier.

The children were also invited into the atelier to construct with recycled cardboard boxes and masking tape.  Through the building and taping, this became another drawing surface on a larger scale.  

In the classroom, the children were given an opportunity to use chalk for drawing on both white and black paper.  This was simply another way for them to express their thoughts on paper and to enrich their love for drawing, but more importantly, to reintroduce chalk as a valuable drawing tool.


Kindergarten

The kindergarten students recently took a walk to photograph things in nature.  We will be using these pictures to sketch on larger paper, then finish with paint to bring the picture to life.  This process will challenge the children to focus on linear forms and shapes along with the minute details.  It will also support the development of fine motor skills in relation to their control of movement when using writing or drawing tools.  They continue to explore the centers in the atelier.

If you have not done so already, please check the gallery for your child's self-portrait.

Posted by Ms. Lepage at 3:17 PM | Permalink

Preschool 3's

In the preschool 3's class, the children are beginning to explore color using paint.  The study began with mixing red and yellow paint in a jar.  As the children watched the transformation occur, they wondered what it would look like on paper and how the paint would feel on their hands.  Was it a cool temperature?  Did it feel squishy or gooey?  Was it sticky?  The children loved making new discoveries with the paint as they transferred it to
a paper surface. We wondered what movements or engagement they'd have with the color.  We observed children mashing, swirling, smoothening, and scratching the color.   As the children interact with color in different ways, the energy level in the atelier is high, full of excitement and joy!


Preschool 4's

As the children continue on their journey, new discoveries are made everyday and little treasures are found throughout their weekly walks.  The children returned one day with a ripe papaya and began to use their senses to explore this wonderful fruit.  They looked at the shape, smelled it, felt the skin, listened to the sounds it made as they shook it and as it was cut open.  Lastly, they were able to taste this delicious fruit.  From this experience, the children began observational drawing only using a pencil at first.  The children also mixed paint to match the papaya's tone at the easel.  Later, the children were reintroduced to craypas as another tool to use for their drawing.  We will continue doing observational drawings as the children return with more treasures.


Kindergarten

The kindergarten students are exploring the different centers within the atelier: metal insets, drawing, beading, painting, blocks, light table, and collage.  As the children use this time to create and imagine, we will also be doing self-portrait drawings.  This process allows the children to look at themselves, to see the differences and similarities in each other, and to have a greater appreciation for who they are.  Each drawing will be posted in the gallery in the upcoming weeks.  

Posted by Ms. Lepage at 12:05 PM | Permalink

Aloha and Welcome back to all new and returning students! 

For the past three weeks, the children and I have been getting to know each other.  The preschool teams and I felt this was the best way for all of us to get acquainted and to build a trusting relationship.  This is a key part of each child's learning process.  Once the children feel comfortable with a teacher, only then are they able to truly express themselves through their work and also in this case, the atelier.  Thank you all for allowing me to build this relationship.

Preschool 3's and 4's
In both the three- and four-year-old classrooms, easel painting has been available during morning Discovery Time.  The three-year-olds have been exploring with black and white paint: one week on white paper, the next week on black paper.  We are beginning with black and white so that the children can focus on the qualities of paint -- texture, movement on paper, thickness, etc. -- and on the variations in brush strokes depending on the size of the brush, the amount of paint applied to the brush, and the pressure applied to each brush stroke.  So much to learn about paint! Since the four-year-olds have had a full year of experience with paint, they began mixing their own colors to create a mini-palette.  They too have experienced color on white paper, then on black paper.  The four-year-old children have also enjoyed face painting, a natural progression from paper, as they explore their face as another surface, quite different from paper.



Kindergarten
The kindergarten children began with learning about the atelier or revisiting their understanding. We discussed the different centers that will be offered throughout the year and took a closer look at some of the tools used for drawing.  The children were also given a sketch book, which will be used throughout the year as a tool for them to express their thoughts on paper.  All the children experienced drawing larger scale pictures after placing butcher paper on the floor. What do you notice about the photos?  See the gallery for more pictures.

Posted by Ms. Lepage at 3:01 PM | Permalink

The Kahala Mall self-portrait show was a success!  I'd like to thank all of the parents who set up and took down on those two Sundays; your help and support to our program mean a lot!  I also want to thank all of the children; they worked so hard on the drawings, paintings, and sculptures!

This past week the children visited the show and had a wonderful time viewing their work and walking around the mall!  Thank you, parents and grandparents who were able to attend.

Announcement: the Golden Owls' boxes and the Kindergarten self-portraits are on display in Wilcox at the end of the hallway, in front of Ms. Koshi's room.

The past few weeks have been full of wonderful work and conversations.

The three-year-old class continues to build their relationship with clay.  As we have witnessed, the small groups that have been working with the clay are also building strong relationships and collaborations with each other, which is one of the most significant things developmentally at their age.  The children continue to investigate the wet clay, which is not stiff but almost dough-like. We are noticing that the children like to use large amounts of clay while creating their ideas. Other observations are of the vocabulary that is developing, the depth of the knowledge that is being built with this material, and the pure delight and happiness that the children are feeling.  Of course there is a lot to clean up, and many children have been sent home with dirty clothes, but I know you don't mind!
 The children are also working on their 100-years-in-Manoa project, the little houses that you have been seeing around.  I know that Miss Iris sent a letter home for you all to collect treasures to use for collage, including pictures, things that are meaningful to the children, etc.  Each house represents the child in their school community and should be special for each of them!

The four-year-old class has been reflecting on their assemblage boxes as well as on the video we shot while out and about in our neighborhood. We have been looking as educators at what is most memorable to the children, and how the experiences and memories they will take from these walks and outings will shape their understanding of their world and how they interact with it.  A constant theme with these outings has been water -- flowing water, puddles, waterfalls and the way in which they move, where the water comes from, etc.  Our Manoa community was built by using water as a natural resource to support farming, so it is interesting how fascinated the children have become with water in this environment.  Presently we are looking at video clips with the children more closely to discover what they find so interesting about the water and how they relate to it.

Kindergarten
Last week the children worked on color wheels and mixing palettes, which they really enjoyed because they made so many discoveries during paint mixing.  After reflecting on painting and mixing, many of the children wanted to paint more and were interested in incorporating the solar system into their paintings.  After discussing with the children whether they wanted to make the actual solar system or create their own solar system using their imaginations, the children decided to create their own. This week we started working on a mural, and the children worked together to create new planets with new names and ideas. 

Posted by Ms. Guillory at 7:39 AM | Permalink

Hi, everyone. Happy Valentine's Day!  I want to remind everyone that the show is going up next week at Kahala Mall, Monday through Saturday, so take your children, family, and friends to see it.

I want to thank all the children for working so hard to get ready for the show, and hope they will take the time to enjoy their work and what they have accomplished so far this year.  I also would like to say, "Good job, and thank you!" to all the parents who are volunteering their time for the art show.  I want to especially thank Karen Kawamura, who has not only helped organize and be the go-to person for this show, but has also has been my room parent this year and helped with both of the ateliers.

Below are some of the things you will see at the show as well as the show's write-up:
THE CONCEPT OF SELF-PORTRAITURE: 
A MULTI-MEDIA CELEBRATION
OF IDENTITY AND COMMUNITY
Mid-Pacific Institute Preschool and Elementary School


Children are continuously shaping their individuality and identity from their interactions with the world around them. The art curriculum of Mid-Pacific Institute Preschool and Elementary School encourages each child to engage in meaningful, explorative, and contemporary modes of investigating oneself within his/her environment. The children are exposed to a variety of mixed-media techniques as a means to develop a deeper understanding of concepts.

With a concept such as self-portraiture, the children identify different ways to depict personality, mood, interests, or visual likenesses of oneself. The children are encouraged to incorporate the technical elements of visual art such as line, shape, color, texture, pattern, or light/shadow. The children begin to recognize their developmental progress through creation, comparison, and written reflection on “how he/she has improved as an artist.” Documentation of the artwork is kept in an art portfolio so that the children can readily assess their progress over the years.

The self-portraits in this exhibit were created with drawing and painting, as well as with photographic, sculptural, and collage techniques. While each artwork depicts the personal characteristics that the children chose to represent, each piece evokes a sense of authenticity and honesty and becomes a re-creation or re-invention of “the self.”

Posted by Ms. Guillory at 12:12 PM | Permalink