Aloha family and friends of MPI!
On Monday, the kindergartners continued to finish their shape leis as they sketched out patterns, used construction paper to cut out various shapes, and strung beads to make their leis.
The first graders participated in making their plantable cards. The students helped their classmates by tearing up recycled paper and were enthusiastic as they chose vegetable seeds to place into their plantable paper.
The second through fifth graders participated in creating marbled art. We discussed the different form it takes by using water and colors to create a different shape. The students worked cooperatively as they filled up the trays with water, took turns selecting the colors they wanted to marbleize, and made sure each other got a chance to create their marbled paper. The students got creative and not only made marbled paper but also cards, postcards, bookmarks, and origami cranes. One of the second graders decided it would be a nice gift to give our principal, Mrs. Hussey an appreciation card out of the marbleized paper.
On Tuesday, the kindergartners worked on creating abstract art by blowing watercolor paint on paper using straws. The students were excited to see the effect of straw blowing and were amazed to see their multicolored firework-like creations.
The first graders took part in making the marbleized paper as they worked in groups to make their creations.
The second through fifth graders took a brief nature walk to the garden outside and gathered various leaves and flowers to press and make prints. The students chose their favorite plants, lay it accordingly on watercolor paper, covered it with paper towel, and used a hammer to create a print of their plant. The result was a light, delicate print on watercolor paper. The students enjoyed making prints using this well-known Japanese technique.
On Wednesday, the kindergartners further investigated their study about shapes by creating their own family by drawing shapes using markers and colored pencils.
The first graders studied about form as we discussed the difference between a triangle and a pyramid. One student exclaimed that a triangle was more "flat and 2D" while the pyramid was more "pointy and 3D." The students then made their own pyramid by cutting, gluing, and decorating their paper. The students were excited to share the unique designs of their pyramids with their peers. One student exclaimed that this was his favorite activity so far.
The second through fifth graders participated in a discussion about warm and cool colors. Through previous knowledge, many of the students already knew about the warm colors (red, orange, yellow) and the cool colors (green, blue, purple). The students then took a paper divided into quarters and labeled each box all warm, mostly warm, all cool, mostly cool. The students then looked through magazines to cut out images of warm or cool colors to create a color collage.
On Thursday, the kindergartners worked in various centers by completing activities such as their shape leis, straw blowing watercolor art, and their family picture using shapes.
The first graders participated in a small pair activity by using modeling clay to study about various forms and 3D shapes. The students used the clay to make models of animals using 3D shapes such as spheres, pyramids, cones, cylinders, and cubes. Many of the students used their imagination and cognitive skills by creating animals such as whales, sharks, elephants, owls, and snakes.
The second through fifth graders continued to work on their warm color/cool color collage. The students also started to create their own warm color/cool color contrasting image. The students outlined an original image and colored in 1-inch diagonal squares using either the warm color or cool color for the image and background. They made various shapes such as hearts, letters, stingrays, and moons.
Here's to another fun week at summer art camp!
