DAY ONE WITH UPPER SCHOOL & 5TH/6TH

A Fold Apart; Origamist Robert Lang's Incredible Paper Creations

Genesis 1:27 tells us that we are created in the image of God. John 1:1-3 explains that all things were made by Jesus, the First Artist!  Everyone is an artist; everyone is a creative individual - it just comes out of us in different ways. Some people sing, dance, play a musical instrument, act, or paint and draw. Others like to cook, sew, write stories and poetry, or work with wood. To be human is to create! 

At the beginning of class, I asked students to write down what kind of art class they wanted and to think of some personal goals for the year. Then, we discussed ways to be successful in school as well as how art benefits our hearts and minds. I also showed the kids a few of my own personal art pieces from home so they could see what sort of artist I am. I love it all! Painting, drawing, sculpture, pottery, everything!  

Then, students were given the opportunity to take the "Make It!" challenge. We discussed the importance of the art making process, sometimes it is more important than WHAT we actually make! (Thinking of a plan, designing, experimenting, and then the act of creation uses higher order thinking skills.) Students were given a container of items such as paper, pipe cleaners, glue, popsicle sticks, and colored pencils and the assignment to, "Make ... something!" 

A few upper school examples from the "Make It Challenge"

At the end of class, we took turns describing to the group what our plan was for the art piece, finished or not. Students came up with some interesting ideas; a few kids did a drawing or a design with the pencils, but most students decided to build with the materials. We saw paper sculptures of buildings, flowers, and boxes. One student made a puppet show stage, another made a beautiful symmetrical design with glued popsicle sticks.

Genesis 1:27 

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

John 1:1-5 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.