Mr. Mills Blog

I just finished grades last night, and we are moving forward with all new projects right now.

The 3rd graders are working on symmetrical aliens. They have learned the terms balance and symmetrical balance. The aliens they create will have to be completely symmetrical with some asymmetrical parts. It does allow them to be very creative with how they decide to make their alien. Mr. Brown and I are looking forward to seeing the results.

The 4th graders are beginning a project that will last until winter break. For the past 6 years, I have worked with an organizatin called Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education (CAPE). CAPE asks teachers to create arts intergrated projects that they will implement in their classrooms. Over the past 6 years, I have worked with Jessi Walsh from the Hyde Park Art Center, and this year is no different. Every year we have done a difference project, and this year the students are going to make screenprinted propaganda posters. This week, we looked at the word propaganda and its definition. Then, we looked at propaganda posters from World War II and how thyey were used to persuade Americans to support that war. Next week, we will continue to look at propaganda and prepare the students for the posters they will be creating. We also wanted to let you know that two sheets are going to come home soon. The students already got a photo permission sheet. As part of this projects, we will be taking video and pictures, so we need permission from parents to use those images. Also, we are taking a field trip to the Hyde Park Art Center at the end of December. That trip slip will be coming home soon.

The 5th graders began working on a weaving project this week. The students created their looms and began weaving yarn this week. The students learned how to weave, and we talked about some of the things they need to watch out for. The process is not difficult, but if the students do not concentrate and pay attention, they might make a lot of unnecessary mistakes.

Finally, the 6th graders began working on their embroidered pillows this week. Each student should have gotten a letter this week to bring home. The letter is also here. The students will need to learn many different processes in order to correctly make these pillows. This week, we just had enough time to explain the project and start working on designs. In the next week or two, the students will begin embroiderig their pillows.

Enjoy all the time off and we will see you on Wednesday for conferences!

Let’s get right into it, and then enjoy the break…

The 3rd graders finished up creating their biomorphic sculptures. The students really amazed me with their results. Just by looking at them, I think it looks like much older students created these sculptures. Thanks Mr. Brown for suggesting this project!

Download Anthony, Devonte, Michael H, and Stokely

Thanks to everyone who attended the screening of the global warming public service announcements last night at the Hyde Park Art Center. Our 4th graders were very excited about this showing and I think there creativity and hard work showed. This was certainly a long journey for them. We started this project way back in January by looking at how global warming happens and how it impacts the Earth. Then, the students worked in groups to come up with an idea, script, and storyboard for their global warming public service announcement. Then, they needed to plan, make props, and practice their commercial. Finally, they needed to record and edit the finished videos. They had to use multiple skills and work together as a group. The thing that impressed me the most were the discussions the students had with each other when they were deciding what to do and how to do it. They really had to develop a way to solve their problems and come up with a decision that everyone agreed on. Ms. Walsh and I made a big deal about the brainstorming portion of this project and I was glad that so many students took it seriously. To see ALL of the videos, check them out here.

The 5th graders finished up a short activity based on the artwork of Andy Warhol. The students were photographed in goofy poses and then they colored them in the same way Warhol colored in his famous portraits of Marilyn Monroe or Mao Zedong.  When we return from the break, we will begin Smart Explorers which has been part of the fine arts curriculum for many year. It includes writing, fine arts, and multiple visits to the Smart Museum. Please sign and return the field trip form for this project.

The 6th graders began working on their monochromatic portraits this week.I will talk about this after the break. Also, the students will begin putting together the mosaic with Mirtes. This project will require the students to be taken out of their other classes during the school day, so I urge you to read the following letter that should be finding its way home after the break.

Finally, I just wanted to mention the programs I have linked to this blog. If you go here, I have listed a bunch of free (mostly) art programs that your child can use at home. I’ve worked with all of these, so I’m not listing them just to list them.

Enjoy the break!

ISAT’s are here. Soon they will be over. Let’s move on…

I put some pictures up of the African American Heritage Fair here. As always, it was a great event and the performances were beyond excellent. The media club recorded the event and they are in the process of editing the video in order to sell the DVDs. On that note, I wanted to say thank you to everyone who purchased the winter assembly DVD. We can still make more if you would like to purchase one…just let me know.

On to fine arts, the 3rd graders began a project this week focusing on biomorphic shapes. Mr. Brown taught them the difference between biomorphic and geometric shapes. From there, they practiced drawing biomorphic shapes. When I saw the classes this week, they began drawing and cutting biomorphic shapes out of styrofoam. They will be making sculptures with these shapes soon.

The 4th grade students are in the middle of planning, recording, and editing their global warming environmental public service announcements. I have so much to say about this project, but I’m going to give my full assessment until it is over. Let me just say that I have been extremely proud about how the students have tackled the video making process. And, please try to attend the closing event for this project at the Hyde Park Art Center on Thursday, March 13th at 4:00.

Download What Are Your Kids Listening To?

The 5th grade students finished up their hip hop project this week. Above, you will see a short video I made for the African American Heritage Fair. It includes a lot of the students responses to discussions we had in class about the way they view hip hop now and the way it “used” to be. We are going to do a short project centering around Andy Warhol before starting the Smart Explorers project when we return from spring break.

Download Disco Dance by Ali, Liza, Ellynne, and Helena

Above, you will see one of the finished stop animations. All of the stop animations can be seen here. Some of the students worked on the final mosaic design this week. After spring break, the students will be working on putting the mosaic together with Mirtes. The project will continue through early May, but we will not be working on the project during every single class period. Mirtes will be here on certain days for the entire school day and the students will work on the mosaic in shifts.

Download Zoe

Finally, Saturday Academy ended last week. To see on of the dub videos the students made, you can look above. I will be making DVDs of all the finished videos soon.

Enjoy the long weekend!

It is good to know that in the midst of all this ISAT craziness, there is something to look forward to. With the African American History Fair tonight, the students have a chance to put on a tremendous musical show. I’m looking forward to it…pictures will be up next week.

The 3rd graders gave their puppet performances this week for their classmates and Ms. Graham’s preschool class. We had some bumps and bruises with the performances, but it was fun to see the students be excited to perform and give it their best. The photographs above are from the camera of Mr. Phillips…thanks!

The 4th graders are in the middle of making their videos…this is the crazy part of the project since the students are at different points in the project. Above, you can see one of the groups in action. Also, we will be having a “end of the project celebration” at the Hyde Park Art Center on March 13th from 4 to 7. Slips about this went home yesterday. We are trying to get a head count, so if these can be returned soon, we would appreciate it. Thanks.

Download Ryan’s Breakbeat

The 5th graders are just about finished with their hip hop unit. Mr. Bynum’s class are done with their breakbeats and Mr. Rowell’s class will finish next week. You can hear an example of one of their breakbeats above. We also listened to some older hip hop songs in class this week so the students can hear that hip hop is great art form that can be used for many positive messages. It is too bad that many of the students see it as a money first, almost inappropriate piece of popular culture. Considering it has very modest beginnings, I wanted them to see what the lyrics could be.

The 6th graders are finishing up two things. First, they are going to be completing a finished design for their class mosaic with Mirtes next week. Plus, they are just about to finish their stop animations as well. I will be putting all of the stop animations online soon.

Also, the video editing Saturday Academy will be ending tomorrow. I will be putting the student videos on a DVD to give to them next week. I had a lot of fun teaching this class, so I hope the students learned a lot and enjoyed their time with me on the weekend.

Until next week…

I feel as though many of the projects we are doing in art are pointing towards a performance of some sort. Let me explain:

The 3rd graders have been preparing their scripts over the past couple weeks in preparation for a performance they will give to the Pre-K next week. Above, you can see some of them writing and practicing with their puppets. Mr. Brown and I are certainly looking forward to it.

The 4th graders are just beginning to video tape their public service announcements. I have been very excited to see all the great conversations the kids are having about their videos. They have had some very “heated” discussions trying to come to a compromise on how they are going to accomplish their goals. I guess it has been rather loud in the art room during this time, but the creative talk that is happening is truly astonishing. I’m looking forward to these videos coming together.Ms. Walsh and

The 5th graders have been working on their breakbeats using Audacity. While they are basically copying and pasting parts of old soul and funk songs to create their breakbeats instead of actually using turntables or more sophisticated equipment, I think it is important that they see just how the music of hip hop began. They are also working to get their performance ready for the African American History Fair next Friday.

The 6th graders have been working with Mirtas to create the design for the mosaic they will be working on after spring break. I guess I see this as a “performance” since it will be hanging on an underpass near the Museum of Science and Industry for all to see.

Enjoy the long weekend!