4ExpressOurselves


 * 2008-2009, 2009-2010

Art**

2009-2010: Students will evaluate their artwork, reflecting on their use of the art elements and principles in their work through writing. Students will create an abstract piece that conveys an idea or emotion (i.e. - time, energy, freedom, war/peace, love/hate, etc.) Upon completion of their artwork, students will describe in writing how their idea or concept is conveyed through line, shape, color, pattern, etc. Their written work will be displayed alongside their paintings.

Students will focus on how culture is expressed through visual art and how art has been used to tell stories across the world, throughout history. We will look at the work of contemporary Native American artist, Norval Morrisseau (also known as "Copper Thunderbird.") His work will provide inspiration for a painting project. He was a "medicine painter" or "legend painter," whose work depicted the legends and stories of his people, as well as his personal struggles, and cultural and political tensions between native Canadian and European traditions. Students will create story paintings with own (either) invented or personal stories/symbols. We will also look at images of other Native American media and art forms (ceramics, masks, totems, wood carvings, headdresses, jewelry, etc), and examine how these items were used to tell stories/myths and how they express the culture of the people. Later in the year, we will look at how the Navajo people told stories though the art of weaving, as well as examples of weaving from a variety of cultures from around the world. Students will study other visual "storytellers" from around the world. Some examples include: artists Jacob Lawerence, Faith Ringgold, aboriginal Australian rock art and bark paintings, pre-historic cave paintings, Grandma Moses, Hmong story cloths, Latin American arpilleras, molas, Carmen Lomos Garza, Norman Rockwell, just to name a few.)


 * Music**

In music class we will study that Lyrics are the poetry of songwriting; A song can tell a story or express emotions. Musically, the emotional qualities are expressed in melody, rhythm, and through the use of different instruments. These qualities can also be expressed through Dance and movement. For each song that is written, a pattern is established for how the lyrics fit into the music rhythmically and melodically. We sing many songs that tell stories. Many folk songs tell stories and have been passed down through the generations. Songs express a whole range of feelings through their lyrics. The style of the music reflects the culture and time in which it was created. 2010 People write songs for different purposes and songs reveal the culture of the songwriter. Songs of celebration: __God Bless America__, __Las Manitas__, __ America the Beautiful __, __Bluebonnet Blue__, __ Spicewood Stand Together __ (School song). Protest songs: __Blowing in the Wind, Turn Turn Turn__. Story Songs __Hawk Can’t Catch Me,__ __Bluebonnet Blue__


 * PE -** The students will be introduced to a Native Hawaiian dance called Agadoo.


 * Spanish -**

To support this unit on writing, the students will be introduced to Spain's most historical literary figure, Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, and his most famous work, __Don Quixote de la Mancha__.

2009-10 : Students hear a little about some books written by Phil Bildner and vote on the one they would like to hear read. Mr. Bildner visits Spicewood for two days: one day for a presentation, and the next day for a writing workshop. Students practice several different writing techniques during the workshop. 2008-09 : Students will hear author Trevor Romain and hopefully be inspired to write about the things they are passionate about, just as he does. Trevor travels the world and has a global perspective with many issues. He writes about a variety of topics (dealing with bullies, fitting in, how to deal with grief, etc.) When promoting Trevor the students watched and discussed a video clip from Trevor's site from his visit to Africa and showed how the people expressed themselves through music and art, and the students could see the children's joy and hope even through their difficult circumstances.
 * Library **