Anne Saffron began her student teaching in two Portland, ME Elementary schools. Riverton Elementary and Presumpscot Elementary. Riverton consisted of about 560 students K - 5 that Anne saw. At Presumpscot add another 100 or so and Anne had close to 700 kids she saw each week. At Riverton she saw students Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday and was at Presumpscot on Tuesdays for six classes. She ran art club and had recess duty. Her classes were back to back and the schedule was hectic. She loved it.
Anne spent seven weeks at these two schools doing a variety of projects. The Kindergarteners started with clay pinch pots. Grades 1-3 worked on clay Wild Things after being read the book Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. And the 4/5 created hand built clay mugs.
Anne spent seven weeks at these two schools doing a variety of projects. The Kindergarteners started with clay pinch pots. Grades 1-3 worked on clay Wild Things after being read the book Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. And the 4/5 created hand built clay mugs.
The clay projects were a huge success and the students had a blast making them. They learned different clay terms and techniques and all the steps necessary to completing a strong clay project. Students became proficient in scratch and slip, making handles, hollowing out work, creating pinch pots, carving, adding decoration (scratch and slip on pieces), glazing, painting, respecting the tools and materials, and appropriate clean up during these projects.
Students were encouraged to draw their projects out first and learn the planning stage before any project takes place.
Students were encouraged to draw their projects out first and learn the planning stage before any project takes place.
During the firing periods students began new projects. K/1 created Sunflower pastel drawings based on Van Gogh's Sunflower painting. 2/3 students created Chinese Vase paintings based on Chinese porcelain vases, and 4/5 worked on water color and salt texture tree paintings.
Working in clay and preparing for clean up.
Two of our various in process projects.