i think a field trip to the pacific northwest is in order.
after using their sketchbooks to work out their totem pole design ideas, they moved over to long sheets of white paper.
we painted them with a wash of light brown and the next day added color over the top.
i love that each child has their very own paintbox to maintain as they please. some are extremely neat, others not so much.
yesterday they finished by painting their names and writing their favorite animal trait on the bottom. i’m eager to take pics once i get them all up on one of the walls.
naturally, i will share!
i’ve been reading the miraculous journey of edward tulane aloud each afternoon after lunch.
it’s about a china rabbit that is on a journey to find out about love and other mysteries of the heart.
how i wish i had a photo of the childrens’ faces as i read.
they are wonderfully expressive. eyes widening and narrowing. eyebrows raised, or knitted together in a deep frown. mouths opening and closing.
an intoxicating audience!
the kind every person who reads aloud wishes for.
did i mention the cat dress someone wore to picture day?
i’m thinking of getting a pantsuit made out of the same fabric.
matching hat? nah.
mustn’t go overboard.
you’re enjoying adding kindling to your woodstove for tonight’s fire. a pot of soup’s on the stove. a tea kettle is whistling.
i just know it!
I love living vicariously through your teaching adventures! You are a wonderful gift to those kids! I might make a totem pole of my own—perfect since I live in the Pacific Northwest! I am sure you will go to the Museum of Anthropology at University of British Columbia, but do make sure you make your way to Victoria and visit Emily Carr’s house! It’s only open May-September so beware! It’s beautiful in Victoria, just your kind of place, and Emily Carr’s work is incredible. But then, you knew that already I bet! Thanks for your super blog!
Typo in my comment…Clementine Hunter is the artist. I guess my comment was way too long because it isn’t all there.
Sorry about that!
I thought of you, Mary Ann, as I walked past an early learning center recently. It was fun to see all of the things going on in their through the big window But what grabbed my eye first was a book on their book shelf. In big, bold letters, the title reads, Art from her Heart. It’s a book about folk artist Clementine Hunger who was a slave and created the most wonderful art from It’s put together by Kathy Whitehead.
Have a wonderful, creative day!
OMG, the detail on those totem drawings – I am very impressed and inspired!! Kudos to Claudia for pointing you towards Emily Carr, we Canadians are very proud of our famous female painter! And I love, love, love that cat print – will be on the lookout for that fabric to make myself a journal cover!
Loving all the great artwork from your kiddos!! That dress is fabulous!! Kate DiCamillo has the best books. I have read quite a few, and am never disappointed.
Fabulous Totems. Take a trip to Canada, Vancouver Island, BC up to Tofino has fabulous totems and art galleries filled with First Nation art. Also Cowichan Bay. I loved it there as well as all the Canadian Provinces I’ve traveled to. Lovely people, beautiful country.
The kids work in their art journals are SO good. I’d love to be a member of that class just so I could see the expressions on their faces when you read to them. My 1st, 3rd, and 6th grade teachers had a tremendous impact on my life. I remember each with fondness and gratitude.
Now I can see you in a floppy cat hat while you read to the kidless…maybe not so much the pant suit. Cant wait to see the totems hung on the wall.
supposed to say “kidlets” not kidless. Stupid spell check.
I loved reading “the miraculous journey of edward tulane”. Now that my daughters are older i’ve donated or given away many of their books, but this one I kept and even picked up a second copy at our local book fair. It is such a moving book. Be sure to have lots of tissues available!
Love, love, love the totem poles! I could be a broken record, but these kids are so fortunate to be in your class!
That cat dress is completely adorable; I’m sure its owner is too! I am not really sure how to tend a woodstove, but I feel that I should learn, and my education on living in cold climates is woefully inadequate. I don’t know how to start a fire, or what a furnace is and how it works either. This is what comes of living in the tropics since aged 10; I really don’t know why my parents felt like we should do that other than my Dad ‘hated cold’ so that might have had something to do with it! I am very much fancying the idea of making a soup and a stew though because it seems like the right thing to do at the end of October.
So much creativity in those kids – I love each and every one of those totem poles! And your page is lovely and inspiring – sublime oak leaves and acorns. Last night we did have a fire going and white chicken chili, so good on a chilly foggy night, and after that an episode of “Midsomer Murders”.
oooooohhhh….i don’t know about that one. let me investigate!
These kids of yours are so super talented. I love the unhindered creativity that kids have. Those totem poles are awesome. I am grinning ear to ear and my heart is singing with sweetness at what is going on in your classroom Mary Ann!!!! I am excited to see them in their final stages. What’s this???? You don’t think you’d look stunning in a cat dress? Nah, me neither 🙂 🙂 🙂 Though I’d maybe go for the hat. 😉 🙂 🙂
Oh, those totem poles are fabulous! We live next to the Muckleshoot Tribe and during the warm months they have pow-wows every weekend night. I can hear the drums very clearly from my house as it is only about a mile up the road. It is open to the public, which is great, even though I haven’t been yet. I haven’t seen totem poles, but maybe I just don’t know where they are…
If you come near Seattle, let me know! It is gorgeous here…a lot like the Northern European countries that you love, but without the accents:).
The cat dress is so stinkin’ cute! I can see you in it, Mary Ann! Yup yup! The page from your journal is one of my favorites to date. Just wonderful! No fires in FP yet, but soon. It almost froze this morning.
We bought a new car yesterday. Actually it is new, but a 2016 model. It is a pearl white Toyota RAV 4 and we got a terrific deal on it. So we have matching little white cars! Have only driven it home from the dealership so far, so looking forward to getting better acquainted! Have a beautiful day, whatever you do!
may you love it as much as i love trixie!
Can’t wait to see the Totem Poles! And – Edward Tulane is my son’s favorite book from childhood – this from the young boy who only liked reference books (machines, cars & weapons especially) – seems that magical Rabbit opened the door to narrative and he’s been a reader and writer ever since!
i love knowing this!
Maybe your kids would enjoy seeing some of the totem pole paintings by Emily Carr, one of my favorite NW artists. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_Carr). In fact, when I think about Emily’s writing and adventures, she reminds me of you and your wonderful embrace of art and life!
Seattle awaits your arrival!
honestly i don’t know what i would do without the fantastic reading/artist recs left by peeps like you claudia! just ordered 2 of her books and can’t wait to get them…
“sister and i in alaska”
and
“hundreds and thousands”
thanks for telling me about her. i didn’t know!!!
Love the totem poles! What a great project……
You’re doing a fabulous job with the children. I am convinced it is not only drawing and painting they learn with you but a lot more that will help them grow all along their lives.
Not so much the soup here .. Sunny , warm temp about 27degrees!
Love seeing your and your students work! Thanks for posting them all.
Super art from the kids. Love your journal page too.
What a wonderful project! You can tell your students loved it by the work they put into their totems.
Some very talented students in your class!
It will be great seeing them all up on the wall.
These kids are soooo lucky to have you for a teacher. A sketchbook, paints, and a great book–life is good!
Love the totem pole idea! And that cat dress – how cool is that!?!
Thanks for sharing, I can just see all those happy painters with their smiles on. This makes my day, your the bestest Miss Moss
Fabulous in every way!
You are a gift to them &
us whose hearts melt reading. ❤️
I would give anything to see you in a cat suit! Killed me.
Oh, how I wish I had a teacher like you at that age – or, any age, really. What a difference this can make in their lives, to learn to put ideas in a sketchbook. I wonder how many of them will continue the practice. Hopefully, all.