Peggy

As part of our upcoming Book Week celebrations, students in grade 2 read one of the Children's Book Council of Australia's short-listed books for 2013, 'Peggy', by Anna Walker.

This delightful picture book tells the story of a chicken named Peggy, who gets lost one blustery day when the wind picks her up and drops her off in the heart of Melbourne city. In this strange new world, Peggy finds herself embarking on some strange new adventures, eventually finding her way home with the help of a lady carrying sunflowers, and some clever pigeons.

Students enjoyed making their very own 'Peggy' using plasticine. Students explored how to manipulate the plasticine using their hands and fingers. We discovered that plasticine is much easier to use after it has been warmed up in our hands. Students were then shown how to create three-dimensional shapes to form the head, body, wings, beak and eyes of their chicken. Students used a special technique to join the body parts together and added feathers for a tail.

We think they are just adorable!

If you would like to find out more about Peggy, click the link below to watch a short animation based on this book!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6fwlJxNoMM

Monet's Garden

To celebrate the National Gallery of Victoria’s Monet’s Garden exhibition, students in Prep learned about the famous French painter, Claude Monet.

Students learned who Monet was and why his paintings are so famous. We looked at several examples of Monet’s best known work, his water lily series, and discussed the colours in the paintings.

Students began this project by creating a Monet inspired background for their water lily pond. Students were shown how to use paint and water to blend colours together. Students were also shown how the way we use a brush influences how our painting will look. Students were encouraged to use gentle brush strokes from side to side. They then added water lilies to their pond using tissue paper. Students cut shapes for lily pads and were shown a special technique for gluing the flowers on so that they would look three-dimensional.

It was wonderful to see the Preps so enthusiastic about Claude Monet!

Paper Plate Lions

Students in Prep put their paper construction skills to good use and made these adorable paper plate lions.

Students learned how to create paper curls using strips of paper wrapped around a pencil for the lion’s mane. Students then pasted brown craft paper on a plate and were shown how to create ‘three part eyes’. Students enjoyed adding details such as a nose and whiskers. This was a great activity aimed at developing students’ fine motor and paper construction skills. These are on display now so make sure you have a look!

Paper Hand Puppets

Students in grades 1 and 2 put their new paper construction skills to good use this week! Students made these bright and fun paper hand puppets using the techniques they learned last week (fan folding, paper curling and paper fringing). Students were given a choice between a clown, monster, bird or frog and created their own variations on the examples shown. This was a great project that challenged students and engaged their creative skills. It was wonderful to send the students home smiling with their new toys!

Giraffe Collages and Birds

Last term, students in grades 1 & 2 learned about collage. These giraffe collages and birds were constructed using a variety of materials such as torn paper, wool, pegs, buttons, feathers, hessian and other decorative bits and pieces.

These artworks were created in two stages. Stage one saw the grade 2 students creating a background for their piece by tearing and sticking paper. Students then traced a stencil for the body and head of their giraffe. Students learned how to create strips of paper for the legs by folding, cutting and sticking strips to create a knee joint.

Stage two saw the grade 2 students exploring a variety of materials to decorate their giraffe. Students used buttons and feathers for eyes, pegs for antlers, hessian and wool for hair and torn pieces of paper for the giraffe’s spots. Students in grade 1 then made beautiful birds for our display using paper, buttons, feathers and split pins. These are on display now so make sure you have a look!

Paper Construction

Students in all levels have started learning paper construction techniques and skills. We have spent the first two weeks of term discussing different types of papers and their everyday uses, various things we can do with paper (cut, stick, fold, scrunch), as well as learning a range of decorative paper techniques.

Last week, students in Prep learned how to make a crocodile using a 'fan-fold' paper technique for its body. This week we will explore how to make paper curls.

Students in grades one and two have explored their skills with paper, constructing 3D shapes, and learning how to create fan-folds, paper curls, as well as different joining techniques. Students created skill-based abstract sculptures to demonstrate their learning.

Students in grade three were given a bit more of a challenge, and were instructed to use their knowledge and skills to create a paper bird, using cylinders and cones as starting points.

We are seeing some fantastic results so early in the term!