Barn Quilt Square Art

 

      Grades first through tenth completed these barn quilt squares recently.  First I showed them a slide show which I had put together to give the students lots of ideas.  Next, they selected the design they wanted. I printed out grids with the designs on them for some of the students, while others just got a grid and designed their own.  Then students chose their color schemes and colored their paper patterns how they wanted to paint their real squares. 

 

     I got free scrap wood from a cabinet shop and marked perfect squares in pencil on them.  Jeff kindly cut them all to the correct size while I sanded the edges.  The students got their patterns, rulers, yard sticks, and pencils; and got to work using their math skills marking their designs onto the wood.  Last, we painted them.  Some used blue painter's tape while others freehanded theirs.  We were so happy with the results that we decorated our classroom with them. 

Wednesday

 

    We are enjoying a snow day today, so I'm catching up a little bit here.  I snapped all of these pictures on a Wednesday a week or so ago.  I believe that seeing snapshots of one's classroom is interesting.  I visit every classroom I can when I have the opportunity.  So, here is mine, along with some explanations. 

     Above, a student was diligently working on finishing her art project, a barn quilt square.  

     Below, I found these crocheted fruits and vegetables, and the younger students love them.  They are in the reading teepee.  

      I encouraged the seventh graders to complete the challenge in their math books which resulted in a picture formed from mapping out coordinate points.  Most of them did it! 

     From left to right:  the February Fun Days schedule (we give every student a copy), an A on a pre-algebra test (that deserved a BIG sticker thingy), fabric for lunchtime placemats we are making, and a helpful Spanish-English dictionary for Spanish class.  

Science experiment supplies are above, fabric for placemats below.  

And a vintage trumpet case next to a vintage clarinet case.  

Teachers Week Art 2024

Teachers Week is always one of my favorite weeks of the year.  I enjoy the great discussions, thought-provoking classes, and wonderful people.  The art class has done a fabulous job this year.  Here are some of their works of art.  Enjoy!  

For instructions on how to make each of these, along with more photos, click on the links here:  Egg Carton Animal Art,  Pop Art Donuts,  and Barn Quilt Squares.

 

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things (From 2023)

 

      These are a few of my favorite things . . . . This is just a post of a few of my favorite things from this past year: a domino box I'd been meaning to make for a while and finally did,   

this lovely cup of coffee to enjoy on a long drive back home,

a completed baby quilt for my first grandchild,  

a few art projects that I did with my school students, 

a barn raising, a cow silo, and a one-room schoolhouse from my lovely home of Lancaster County, 

some fabulous wall art that my family and I enjoyed,  

and the snazziest bathroom sign I've ever seen.  

Happy 2024!