Art, Music, PE, and LMC Informational Newsletter

Ms.Kochanek & Mrs. Nickel

Your Child needs an oversized t-shirt to

cover their clothes while painting in

Thursday & Friday Art!

Tip of the week

*Have your child paint their spelling words, numbers shapes or

letters with water on newspaper or paper towels.

* When looking at a piece of artwork ask your child to describe what

they see. What was the artist trying to say? Read the painting like a

story by looking for clues.

* Play I-spy with colors

* Practice cutting by using junk mail, newspapers, or anything you

can find!

Cool Websites to visit

Etch a sketch online

Jackson Pollock painting tool

Face it!

BuiLD YouR WiLD SeLF

WACKYKIDS.ORG

Mr. Picassohead

Artopia

What have we discovered in Art so FAR?

Monday and Tuesday Art Classes

Kindergarten started the year learning and reviewing color. We are currently learning the art

element “texture” (the way something feels) and applying our knowledge by creating “texture

turtles.”

First grade recently completed a water color painting of a scarecrow. We talked about

perspective, and learned proper painting etiquette. We are currently working on paper

weaving, where we will create a pumpkin out of a woven paper mat.

Second grade is learning about value. We learned that value is the lightness and darkness of a

color. We are showing our knowledge of value through creating a “value pumpkin.”

Third grade started the year reviewing the concept of symmetry through a fall leaf project.

They are actually on display right now in the glass case in the art hall way. We are currently

looking at the concept of perspective through making a water color painting.

Fourth grade has been hard at work learning about line. We learned the term “cross contour”

which is the interior lines of an object that help it look 3D. We created “cross contour

pumpkins” which will be on display shortly. Next, we will learn about the ancient culture of

the Egyptians and create some Egyptian-inspired art.

Fifth grade started the year learning about the art element of “space” by making negative

space name designs. Currently, we are learning about the art element “form” by making a 20-

sided figure called an icosahedron.

If you are interested and available to help put up/take down art work, please e-mail me at

Patty_Kochanek@ipsd.org. The schedule is extremely flexible, and I could really use the help!

Thank you! -Patty Kochanek, Monday & Tuesday ART K-5.

Keep reading for ThurKeep reading for ThurKeep reading for ThurKeep reading for Thursday and Friday Art Class information…sday and Friday Art Class information…sday and Friday Art Class information…sday and Friday Art Class information…

Thursday and Friday Art Classes

Kindergartners are learning about the difference between line and shape, as well as the

difference between organic shape and geometric shape. We will be using this knowledge in

future art projects.

First graders are learning about themselves through art. We recently finished the self-

portraits paintings and now will begin our study of the face map and create self-portraits of our

faces.

Second graders are learning a lot about color! The color wheel and how to create new

colors will be the theme on the next projects. Oil pastels will be used to create a fall leaf

composition. Variety in line will be used to learn about drawing and painting trees.

3rd

grade are learning about Aboriginal art. Aboriginal art dates back to the Ice Age. The

students painted dots on the frames to relate to the ground and body work the early Aborigines

painted. Next, students chose an animal to draw in the x-ray style of the Aborigines. Finally

students added sticks and raffia to their frames to show how nature is so important to that

culture.

Fourth graders did a wonderful job creating cut-out collages in the style of Matisse.

Now, we are learning about Picasso, comparing and contrasting his style with Matisse. Students

will be creating a self-portrait in the style of Picasso and writing an essay explaining their color

and line choices.

Fifth graders are finishing their still life drawing and paintings. They created 5 different

values in ebony pencil and in tempera paint to portray an apple or pear.

Mrs. Handy

Just a reminder from last year:

Listen to your student’s grade level composer. Any extra exposure to music

will help them become better musicians. www.pandora.com lets you

create a playlist of similar music styles, composer, and performers.

Go green and make your own instrument from recycled things around your

house. http://www.kinderart.com/teachers/9instruments.shtml

At the end of October we will be making instruments in 5th

grade music

classes. From now until October 13, please send in any of the following

items:

• Plastic containers with lids- WASHED: Yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese, dip,

margarine, pop bottles, etc.

• Cardboard containers: tissue boxes, shoe boxes, cereal boxes, paper towel rolls, toilet

paper rolls, etc.

• “Shaker” and “filler” materials: pony beads, dried beans, rice, etc.

• Other purchased materials (if you have extras):Rubber bands, masking tape, wax paper

Kindergarten:

We are working on keeping a steady beat and moving to music. We sing with

a steady beat on our laps; move around the room to the steady beat; play

drums using a steady beat; steady beat is what we work on ALL year! We also

discussed our 4 voices- whisper, talk, shout, and sing. In music class we try

very hard to use a singing voice during our songs. In October we will continue

using our singing voices with “2 Little Black Birds,” “Circle ‘Round the Zero,”

and “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” This week we will also use the

xylophones for the first time! It is a HUGE deal to use this cool pitched

percussion instrument.

4th

Grade:

We learned about 16th

notes through an

American folk song-“Chicken on a Fencepost,”

and added the temple blocks to it. This

month the temple blocks and early lyric

writing will make an appearance in “Hector

Protector.” October will bring band and

orchestra instruments and some music from

Australia “Tie Me Kangaroo Down” and

“Kookaburra.” Mozart was our composer

from the classical music era. The students

recognized “Eine Kliene Nachtmusik” right

away.

5th

Grade:

We began the year studying music in 6

8 time. “I’se the B’y” was

the Canadian folk song we focused on. Groups of students

created movement/dance to this piece. We are now working on 6

8 partner rhythms show that students have learned how to play

in 6

8 time. “Down the River” is an Ohio folk song we are dancing

to in 6

8 time as well. Orchestra instruments families are also

taking precedence in our music lessons. At the end of the month

we will make recycled music instruments in class. We will also

focus on identifying Major (happy sounding) and minor (sad and

somber sounding) music in October. Sibelius was the composer

we studied. He lived in Finland during the modern music era. Our

next composer is Mussorgsky from Russia.

3rd

grade:

We started out with a game called “The Cup Game.” This

taught us how to count triplets and 4 music tempos-

andante, moderato, allegro, presto. I bet your students

could teach this to you (use plastic cups☺). During

September we begin playing and singing mi, re, do melodies.

“3 Blind Mice” is the song we sang, accompanied on the

xylophones, and played a game to. “Simple Simon” is the

next mi, re, do song we are singing. It will be in ABAB coda

form, with the “B” section using types of pies (apple,

strawberry, etc.) to clap rhythms. Beethoven is our

composer from the classical music era.

2nd

Grade:

We have been learning many play party

games. This consists of a song, student

performed accompaniment, and game. We

started talking about string instruments and

read a book called “Zin Zin Zin a Violin.” We

will start picking play party games and songs

for our November program (NOV. 18).

Towards the end of October we will begin

using Boomwhackers. More information on

those instruments next month! J.S. Bach has

been our composer- we’re reviewing Vivaldi

in October.

1st

Grade:

We reviewed the 4 voices- whisper, talk, shout, sing- and steady

beat. Many of our activities include a song and game. We are

beginning to read rhythm patterns using the song “Bow, Wow,

Wow.” In October we will continue reading rhythms through

songs we know. We will also learn the “Pumpkin Dance” and

“The Pumpkin Eater.” Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” has been our

listening selection so far.

Mr. Folley

CURRICULUM

We are finishing up our Track and Field Unit the second week in October. Fourth Grade students will

finish the unit with a track meet on Friday, October 15th

. Events covered in the unit are sprints, long

jumps, javelin throw, hammer throw, discuss, and relays.

The rest of October we will be going over football basics. The students will learn about positions and

the responsibilities of positions. They will understand what running a route means and how downs

work.

Kindergarten and 1st

grades will be introduced to football, but will focus more on throwing and

catching.

Tid Bits on Folley

Mr. Folley is a true Denver Bronco fan as he lived in Colorado for some time. John Elway was

his guy and to this day doesn’t miss a game. For baseball he is first and foremost a Giants

fan and hopefully will be watching them play this October. He attended high school in

Modesto, California. Here in Chicago, all Sox.

NEWS

Owen staff will be competing in a District 204 Elementary Volleyball Tournament on October 15th

.

The Owls came in 2nd

last year and hope to bring the trophy home.

Club Owen is open on Friday mornings at 8 am. If you would like to see a schedule or need a

permission slip, visit the PE webpage at http://owen.ipsd.org/Subpage.aspx?id=694 . You will also

find information on IM’s and other PE news.

Mrs. McHale Mrs. Sassano

Welcome October! A great month to curl up with

a good book on a cool, crisp Autumn Day!

In the LMC we have been busy reading books from the Monarch, Bluestem,

and Caudill lists. Students have enjoyed hearing the stories and “making

connections” to their everyday lives and to other books they have read. We

have also reviewed several basic computer skills such as, how to save

documents to a personal folder, and how to change the font style and size. In

October we will continue to work on a wide range of tech skills and learn

computer terms and definitions from the Computer Word Wall list.

Students are doing a great job checking out books and returning them on

time! Keep up the good work! In October they will receive a colorful, plastic

“book bag” that they can use to keep their library books in, while

transporting them to and from school.

Last but NOT least, at the end of October, we will be setting up for the BOOK

FAIR which will take place the beginning of November. More information will

come soon!