Mrs. Banke's Art Page

Art Curriculum at Salem Lutheran School

For 4th, 5th & 6th Graders

Art is a subject we take seriously at Salem Lutheran School. We teach our students that because they were made in the image and likeness of God, their Creator, they are intended by God to become good creators. To this end, we emphasize the expression of Christian and Biblical art: Our students create meaningful liturgical art, often displayed in our sanctuary during Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter as well as for special holy days such as World Communion Sunday and All Saints Day. Throughout the school year they create art with Christian social and justice themes as well as for charitable causes. Summer School also emphasizes Biblical and Christian community themes.

Our art curriculum is a skill-based program designed to develop artistic abilities as well as perceptual and aesthetic awareness. We present both classic and contemporary artists to help students learn to see and think like artists. Our emphasis though is on doing art. Learning to:

• Express ideas visually.
• Gain control over scissors, pens, paint, pastels and clay.
• Manipulate color, light, contrast and unity.
• Achieve a three-dimensional effect on a two-dimensional plane.
• Create from heart, mind and soul.
  

All these are huge steps to the discovery and development of self. Art in school is becoming increasingly important because with so much to learn and do, today’s young students have too little “self-time” to reflect upon new life experiences or just to do some creative day dreaming. With so many scheduled activities for students, we think it’s our special task to help them find the power and beauty of their own unique, God-given artistic imaginations. We see it as our task to help each of them to discover just what sort of “good creator” God has in mind for them to be.

Dear Parents & Guardians
May Art Report

My art students will write a short biography on a relatively known artist (living or deceased) due on (or before) their first art class in May. Required pages for the body of this “mini-book” vary as follows:

	4th Grade.  A minimum of 2 pages excluding cover.
	5th Grade.  A minimum of 3 pages excluding cover.
	6th Grade.  A minimum of 4 pages excluding cover.

All biographies must contain the following: Book Cover (8 ˝” X 11 ˝ “or slightly bigger) is made with stiff paper, plastic or cardboard. The front cover shows the title of the “book” which must include: name of the artist; and, the name of the author (your child). It may include drawings, photos or photocopies of the artist’s work. The back cover should include a description of the student author and what makes his or her book good to read. It may include “excerpts from book reviews” and a picture of the student author. Please have fun with this!

Student Art (displayed on an 8˝” X 11” paper or canvas) is a drawn or painted copy of one of the artist’s work, or part of a work, that best shows his or her style. (A photo or sketch of a student-made sculpture copying the artist’s work is acceptable for the book, but the student will need to bring his or her sculpture to class also.)

Body of the Book should be neat and legible with accurate spelling and punctuation, hand-written or typed on 8˝” X 11” paper. It must answer:

• Who is the artist? (Include name, birth/death dates, if deceased, and birthplace.)
• What are some of my artist’s works? (Include student art, photocopies/prints.)
• What are some interesting facts about my artist? (E.g. He got famous after he died.)
• What style(s) did/does the artist use? (E.g. Impressionism, Abstraction, Realism.)
• How did he/she influence others? And/Or, why is the artist important today?

Last Page(s) must answer:

• What resources did I use to get my facts? (A Bibliography.)
• What new words/terms did I learn? (A Glossary. E.g. Cubism, Contemporary.)

Thank you for your support in this important project.

Ms. Banke