This week we explored the some of the conditions and characteristics of the Northern and Southern areas of the United States before the Civil War. Why would one part of the country want to separate themselves from the other? What were some of differences that lead to this drastic action? How can we get a sense of daily life by carefully examining primary sources like posters, illustrations, paintings and photographs? Each student rotated through a series of stations and detailed what they saw and how the image could inform them about what it would be like to live in this area of the country. Today was spent outside our classroom when we visited two art museums--the Clyfford Still Museum and the Denver Museum of Art. At the Still Museum we took part in a workshop that exposed the children to the transition to abstraction in Modern Art. Students learn about the difference between "tangible/representational" and "intangible/abstract" and spend some time using notecatchers and in discussion and then at the end they make an art piece that basically serves as their response to one of Still's works. After a brief lunch, we toured the Modern Masters exhibit at the Denver Museum of Art. I know that one day children will study these pieces in high school or college and remember the day they spent with them as fourth and fifth graders. Clyfford Still Gallery Denver Museum of Art Thank you for attending your child's dream homework presentation or the museum on Friday. Not many words need to be said about the brilliance, creativity, and self-directed learning experiences about this project. |
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