Who am I?

Who am I?

2nd Grade Creativity Challenge

For this creativity challenge, 2nd graders began with only paper, tape, and scissors.  Their challenge was to create something to wear or to hold that taught the class something about themselves.  This challenge was inspired by Jason Blair of Dublin City Schools.  He labeled this challenge as "trying to bring boredom back."  When students begin to experience boredom, they are free to play, wonder and create.  Some students definitely felt uncomfortable beginning this challenge, but by the end were all very engaged in creative work!

Mason likes wearing necklaces with crystals so he made his own.

First Ninja, now Samurai mask by Collin.  Lots of experimenting with paper cutting, folding, and taping. 

"I'm making a paper forest and the folder paper is the tents."

Mallory tried a new way to make her paper stand, inspired by an artwork we saw in class.   Her work was inspired by a place she likes - Old Man's Cave and the blue is the waterfall.

Cameron made a pirate ship with a cannon because he likes boats and pirates.  We thought he had a very inventive way of making the ship stand!

"I'm making a paper sculpture board of the things I like, like chemistry, space, and deer."

Artists reflect and revise, they persist through failure.  This student's progression toward making paper glasses.

Tin Foil Challenge

Tin Foil Challenge- 5th Grade

Each grade has started their year in art with a creativity challenge and discussion of creativity.  5th graders were given challenges such as "Design a new communication device" or "Imagine a zoo on Mars."  Students worked with only 10 minutes, tin foil, tape, scissors, straws and a partner.  Constraints are a great fuel for creativity because they can help us narrow down ideas and find a place at which to begin working.  Students did an excellent job jumping into this challenge and thinking in many different ways!

Article of clothing for both a desert and a blizzard:  Backpack to  drink water out of.  

Imagine something you would need if the whole world was underwater. 

Imagine a way to take pictures without a camera:  " I'm making a mind because you can create pictures in your mind without a camera.

Imagine a way to reverse a bad haircut:  "This pushes all your hair down.  It's an infinity hat.  It can hide your long hair."

Create a way to make a painting come to life:  "We used the bendy straws as people.   We bent them so it looks like they are coming out."

Wifi for the whole world:  Giant, solar powered tower.  Probably in space.

Imagine an ice age water park:  This group made slides all out of ice.

Imagine a device that will replace computers:  Flexible computer, it can fold into any device like a phone or tablet.

At the end of class, we reflected on the thinking of ourselves and others. Students wrote examples of how they thought like artists, or generated creative ideas.  

Transformations

Transformations
6th Grade Choice Project

6th grade is a big year in Worthington, the final year of elementary school!  In this transformative year, students created artworks dealing with the theme of "transformation."  Students brainstormed ideas and created an artwork with their choice of materials.


In the inspiration/ideation phase of this project, we looked at and discussed artworks made by contemporary artists, including Kehinde Wiley.




Kehinde Wiley begins his process by asking passerbys if they are interested in posing for a painting.  He has them choose a historical painting that they would like to replicate in their pose.  Kehinde then transforms these historic works into relevant portraits of people of today's time and culture.   These paintings highlight the model's personality and style.

Example of historical painting and Wiley's painting.  "Napoleon Leading the Army over the Alps."

Students then made their own creations with the idea of transformations.