Artventures: School's Out! Summer's In!

Hi teachers! How did you spent first week of the Summer break? The pessimist in me tells me it's ending real soon. How nice to sleep in and losing track of time doing your own things. 

Just last Sunday, I've contributed an art activity for Pesta Ubin 2017. I'm lucky to have my friend, HT, to help out this year. We went to Pulau ubin the previous week to do some preparation. Thanks to the organiser, Ria, and Uncle Lim, the drink stall owner, who lend us his shop space so that we don't have to break our backs sitting on the ground. Our canvas were the treated coconut husks. Uncle Lim kept them for us and after sunning and sanding them, they were good for painting. Things were moving at a good pace but the sun was unforgiving. I love the smell, sight (grains) and quality of natural wood. I still marvel at how thoughtful the way nature works: you can have something to eat (coconut flesh) and drink (coconut water) and paint (husk) all-in-one compact design. You can view more pictures here. 

Equity & Equality

Do you discuss something deliberately in class that's not exactly related to Art? I like to start my first lesson (especially to a new cohort of students) explaining to my students about the difference between equity and equality by introducing them my propaganda wall. In school, everyone recite the National Pledge during morning assembly daily. Since they are not going to receive the same treatment from me throughout the year, I think it's clearer to be explicit about my actions by adopting a single word from the National Pledge and began my lecture.

Out of the Classroom!

I like seeing children learning beyond the four walls. To consider the environment as the third teacher, we've got another art room this year and we are doing away with furniture so that children can move more freely. Some small desks were bought with the intention of doing our class work in other parts of the school (like the school garden). The children can move around easily with the desk and make group work more convenient. Simple safety briefing were conducted first before usage and so far even the 7 years old are using them responsibly.

Art Class: Understanding Understanding

In art class, we adopt the Havard Project Zero Thinking Routines for assessment. You can view the video below:

I enjoy reading the children's writing especially when their artwork has a personal connection to themselves. Time will usually reveal what is significant to the children. I told them that I snapped photos of their work so that everyone can learn from each other. It has more relevance when they know they are going to view/ read something from their friends rather than of the teacher's work sample. Art is also one of those subjects where children can use their 'heartware' (soul) instead of emphasizing on the 'hardware' (end product). It helps when I know more about the children because it helps in planning the kind the lessons that are important to know and engaging to them as well. For example, if the majority of the children are responsive to music then perhaps we could study the lyrics/ text in a song/ poem.

At the same time, I'm also using the assessment to gauge how the children respond and think if the lessons were effective. Different classes of the same level can react differently to the same lessons. There are days where I question my decision to teach. There are also good days where the aura of the class is particular good that it feels surreal. 

Art Class: Salted Fish + Fan Painting

I tweaked this lesson from last year. You can view the previous lesson unit here.

Malaysia, Indonesia, Germany, Philippines, Russia, China, Vietnam etc. These are some of the profiles of children in my current cohort. There are a handful of them from mixed parentage. After studying about the Chinese artist, Cheong Soo Pieng's painting. The children painted on a paper fan by showing their cultures/ identities or their interests.