Elementary Art Teacher posts

October 17, 2014

Dilemma - how important is it for the artwork to look 'good' if students learn?  Example: Fourth grade learned about the 'history' of Big Tex at the Texas State Fair.  Then we created a 'Big Tex.'  Their Big Tex had to have boots, pants, belt, buckle, shirt and arms 'akimbo.'  We painted a face with flesh colored paint and the 3rd week (!) we used Sharpies to give Big Tex a mouth, eyes, nose.  

Using an iPad per student, we used the ChatterKids app to make him speak.  They could add stickers if appropriate.  Some did: they used flames to help their narration of his going up in flames two years ago.  It was a fun way to incorporate the history of a Texas icon during the weeks of the State Fair (which not all of my students knew about).  The use of the app was an easy formative assessment.  And fun to boot.

Tell me what you think.Big Tex and Chatterkids app https://www.dropbox.com/lightbox/home/Yale%20-%20Art