It’s Like That and That’s the Way It Is!
8 02 2008
I’m going to switch it up a little today and talk about the 5th grade first. With the African-American History Fair approaching quickly, the 5th graders have been learning about hip hop in a couple different ways and performing a famous Run DMC song (see above) during the fair. In fine arts, we have been looking at the birth of the breakbeat and how it has been used in hip hop music. In class, we have begun making very simple breakbeats using Audacity just so they see how DJs used to loop music to great a seemingly never ending beat.
The 3rd graders are working on performances using their puppets by writing script within their table groups. I am looking forward to seeing them practicing their scripts and performing them for our younger students.
The 4th graders are deep into video production now. They have been brainstorming, script writing, storyboard making, and planning their video. This has been a truly creative journey for them because they have had to really work together as a group to come up with these ideas. And, they have not just chosen the easy route…they want these to be good! Ms. Walsh and I are looking forward to next week where some groups actually begin filming.
The 6th graders got a crash course in mosaics this week through our visiting artist Mirtas. She is working with the students to create a mosaic that will be put up underneath the underpass between the lake and the Museum of Science and Industry. She showed them mosaics she has worked on with other schools and the process involved. Then, the students started sketching ideas for the mosaic. The theme for our portion of the mosaic is architecture so we used some photographs of Hyde Park Homes to help inspire the students. Next week, we will begin thinking about the final mosaic by including the drawings created by the students.
Enjoy the long weekend!
