"Bookmans Creature Creations Display" 3rd Grade

In March, Bookmans will be displaying sculptures and stories created by Simis third graders to celebrate art appreciation month. The project is a collaboration between the classroom teachers and the art room. The students combine two animals into one and create a papier mache sculpture in art class. In their home room, they write an article about their species.

Some of the pieces will be selected for a display in Bookmans. The store will have a special opening night for the display on Thursday, March 11^th complete with refreshments, a scavenger hunt and more. Keep your eyes out for flyers and check the Simis art website towards the end of the month for more details.

"Tie-dye T-shirt Designs" 4th Grade

Fourth grade students created characters and placed them onto drawn T-shirts. The designs feature an "anthropomorphic" character that they imagined. Anthropomorphic means that they have given a human personality or characteristics to an object or an animal. They drew a t-shirt shape complete with detailed stitching, and sketched their character onto it using a pencil. When the character was placed, they used a sharpie to outline.

The students added color by laying strips of colored tissue paper onto their drawings. They picked a solid color to fill the background, covering the entire space. They dipped a brush into water, and brushed over the tissue paper. The pigment in the tissue spreads into paper and creates vibrant color.

After they cover the whole background, they begin adding a tie-dye pattern to the inside of the shirt. The students repeat a color combination so that each paper strip is touching different colors. When the different color strips are wet, the pigments blend and mix creating a tie-die effect.

"P.A.T.S. Fundraiser"

Students are creating cards for a fundraiser in the Art Room. Within the next week, the students will be bringing home envelopes with their completed artwork and order forms. Students have the opportunity to purchase greeting cards, stickers, and notepads featuring their artwork. The money will go to the P.A.T.S. organization, which helps raise funds for field trips, special areas, and many other worthy causes at Simis.

"District Office Display"

Every school in the Madison District displays student's artwork for one month at the District Office. February is the month that Simis artists get to show their hard work. Pieces from each grade level are represented, and are chosen based on creativity and craftsmanship. If you would like to see their work in person, the district office is located at 5601 N. 16th Street and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m till 4:30 p.m.

"Build a House" 2nd Grade

Second graders have been working as architects and designers creating houses. They start with a sketch of the interior, filling four rooms with furniture and detail. They add a little color to plan out each room.

When they finish their sketch, they fold a piece construction paper to create the interior and exterior of their house. On the inside, they use a ruler to create four rooms and a staircase. They design each room using a pencil and then outline their drawing with sharpies.

They add color to the interior using construction paper crayons. These crayons are specially made for construction paper. They show up thick and vibrant. Students use at least one different color for each wall.
When the interior is complete, the students design the exterior. They cover the house by repeating a pattern. Some students use bricks, blocks, and different types of lines. They use the a color sharpie that matches their house to make the pattern blend in. The students cut out windows, cut and fold doors and design a roof and a chimney. When all the different parts are finished, they construct their house.

"Pastel Patterns" 1st Grade

First graders created a project based on their favorite food. After they chose a food, they practiced drawing, outlining and coloring it.

We talked about patterns, and how they repeat. The students had to create a pattern by drawing their food 4 to 8 times. If their pattern was successful, you could predict where the next food would go.

When they had created a successful pattern, they started a final copy. They drew and outlined the foods to create their pattern. They added thick layers of oil pastel, and used their fingers to smooth and blend the color. When they finished, they outlined one last time with a black oil pastel to make their foods stand out.