Grade 1: Art Class Observation

2/11/15, 9:15-10:00

Today I observed Art class as an ongoing part of my culminating project. The art
teacher Ms. K had a painting posted up in the front of the class and the artist on the
painting was named Marie Hensley. I noticed Ms. K did not make any mention of the
painting or the artist. Ms. K explained to the students they should look at the large
quilt she put together using the texture art prints from the prior art class from last
week. I really liked the fact Ms. K called the quilt, a Quilt of hope and that all of
the first grade classes and the 2nd grade classes helped to create the quilt together.
The objective of todays lesson was that children would be able to cut and trace
with precision. The students were given decorative foil paper and were asked to
trace their hand on the paper and cut it out with the intent that the hand prints
would then be glued by Ms. K onto the texture quilt at a later time. I was asked to
help the students trace and cut as needed. I was specifically asked to work with
student S. He was cooperative with me and actually seemed very pleased at what
he was able to accomplish when he successfully traced his hand. The students
worked quickly and were finishing the task rather quickly. Ms. K instructed those
who were done to color on the scrap pieces from their hand cuttings. I thought she
could have made better use of their time! She must have read my mind because
she then passed out paper and told the students to free draw. As I went around I
noticed the students were free drawing by tracing their hand again! I then came up
with an impromptu idea to have the students complete a writing prompt I hope to
be. I was so proud of this moment but Ms. K seemed unfazed. I had students say I
hope to be a teacher, I hope to be a cop, and I hope to be a football player. I tried to
engage. Ms. K when one of the students shared that they hoped to become an art
teacher, but Ms. K was not interested. I also noticed one of the students tried to
show Ms. K their sentence as they wrote II hope to be a soccer player, Ms. K
brushed the student off and kept circulating the room. I have been told by other
teachers that Ms. K has said that she is an art teacher not an elementary
teacher, and I see how this type of thinking is unproductive to the learning
environment. I thought Ms. K could have connected todays lesson in with her
quilt of hope and the curriculum theme of African American history and leaders,
but she unfortunately she did not. I have spoken to the general education teacher
on how to connect this topic and she gave me an idea to introduce the story The
Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco. I am planning this for my next lesson!
At the end of the class Ms. K opened up a link- www.mathisfun.com using the smart
board. Ms. K used this cite to introduce the students to what she called reflective
symmetry. Ms. K then called random students to come up and use the interactive
tools on the smart board to paint with the touch of their finger. Each child was able
to add to the prior students drawing on the smart board. At the end I was also able

to use the tool and add my artwork to the students creation. I was excited as they
were to use the tool. However, I felt badly that all the students were not able to
come up and use this tool. I was thinking Ms. K could have had the students draw at
their seats on paper, to mirror or reflect what the students were doing at the board.
As I left todays class I am wondering who is Marie Hensley-the artist on the painting
in the room? What is the paintings significance to todays lesson? Why didnt Ms. K
tell the students the name of the website or encourage the students to use the
interactive website at home if possible, for all of its value-MATH! After the class I
logged onto the website and took more in-depth notes on the concepts Ms. K made
brief mention of today. I think Ms. K could have done a whole lesson on reflective
symmetry and the students may have engaged more if they had the opportunity
with drawing using the mirror line and reflective symmetry.

Reflection Symmetry
Source:wwwmathissofun.com

Reflection Symmetry
Reflection Symmetry (sometimes called Line Symmetry or Mirror Symmetry) is easy to see,
because one half is the reflection of the other half.
The white line down the center is the Line of Symmetry
(also called the "Mirror Line")

Line of Symmetry

The Line of Symmetry (also called the Mirror Line) can be in any direction

The Line of Symmetry runs left-to-right

Line of Symmetry

Sample Artwork

Example Shape