What do we do in SPACE?

SPACE class sometimes seems like a mystery class but it shouldn't feel that way at all! I love to share what I am doing in class with students, parents, and other teachers! This blog is a great way to stay connected!

The Concept Based Units are as follows for September and October:

BLOSSOMWOOD-
Monday: 5th Grade-Creativity Concept Based Unit
Tuesday: 4th Grade-Creativity Concept Based Unit

MLK-
Wednesday: 5th Grade-Art History Concept Based Unit
Thursday: 3rd and 4th Grades-Art History Concept Based Unit

CREATIVITY UNIT:

Rationale:  Creative thinking is a technique students will need to solve problems and be innovative … all through their lives.  Creative thinking involves creating something new or original.  It involves the skills of flexibility, originality, fluency, elaboration, brainstorming, modification, imagery, associative thinking, attribute listing, metaphorical thinking, forced relationships. The aim of creative thinking is to stimulate curiosity and promote divergence and generate alternative perspectives.  There are various ways to practice creative thinking.

Concepts:  Creativity, brainstorming, relationships, curiosity, originality, flexibility, fluency, elaboration, divergent, perspectives, problem solving, innovation

Essential Understandings: 

Creative thinking is used in all areas of human life.

Creative thinking is essential for success.

Essential Questions:

In what ways is creative thinking important?

Culminating Activity:
Choose a way to use what you learned about creativity in a project.  




 ART CONCEPT BASED UNIT:

Concepts:  culture, change, relationships, emotions, influence, reflections

Essential Understandings:

• Visual art has a strong influence in our lives.
• Art is a mirror to life and reflects the artist’s world and times.

Essential Questions: 

• How do artists affect the world?
• How does art affect life and life affect art?

Other Questions:

1.  Is art important or necessary?
2.  Why do people create art?
3.  How has art changed through time?
4.  What choices must an artist make before beginning a work?
5.  What exactly is art? Are there limits to art making?
6.  How does art expand our thinking?
7.  How does art record and communicate the human experience?
8.  How does art reflect human culture?
9. Should artists be allowed to express themselves without restrictions?

Culminating Activity:

Students will decide on a service learning project for their final art project (at the school or in the community).  Or, students will choose what they want to do with their art, perhaps something towards service learning (i.e. make a brochure about the school).  Include EUs in the final project.