Visual Arts workshops are held at Chelmsford High School
Session 1: 8:30-10:00
VA1 The Coral Reef
In this hands-on session, educators will be given five sheets of plastic to draw part of a scene that will be housed in a box. The result is a picture done in a progression of layers, thus achieving a lot of perspective. This project teaches perspective, color theory, science and language arts. (Elementary)
VA2 The Games We Play: Jump-Starters for Projects
Gather together as the surrealists did to play “games” that will jump start amazing projects, stemming from the subconscious, automatic and fanciful. Great ideas for those students who “can’t think of anything”. (Elementary, Middle School)
VA3 Stamp into Tesselations!
The focus of this hands-on workshop is on tesselations in fabric. Originally designed for 7th grade, it can be adapted for any age group. (Elementary, Middle, High School)
VA4 Journey to TAB: Authentic Student Choice and Voice in the High School Classroom
Discover why one high school teacher decided it was time to make a change in her instruction and how she got started with TAB (Teaching for Artistic Behavior), a choice-based approach. TAB is gaining momentum in art education, but it is still considered a relatively radical approach in many circles. In the TAB classroom, the student is the end-product of our instruction as opposed to the portfolio of artwork. The role of the teacher shifts from the one who provides all of the information and critique to a mentor, guide, and coach. As Kathy Douglas says, “In a TAB classroom, the students are the artists and the classroom is their studio.” This shift in mindset requires grappling with these new ideas that can ultimately lead to more independent problem-solvers in our classrooms. This session could be attended by teachers at any level, but will be presented from the secondary perspective.
VA5 Competency-Based Education and the Arts
Learn about one district’s journey in collaboratively developing K-12 standards and scoring criteria, and applying it to student work. Participants will leave with standards and scoring criteria for art and music K-12 and the experience of revising rubrics based on student work. (Elementary, Middle, High School ART, MUSIC, THEATER)
Session 2: 10:15-11:45
VA6 Geometric Shape Assemblage
The lesson will enable participants to depict a pattern found in nature in three perspectives (foreground, middle and background views). Patterns are drawn on mini canvas boards with oil markers. Lastly the patterned pieces , representing a central theme, will be assembled at different levels on a backboard. This lesson enables students to realize and execute a patented assemblage that is the sum of many parts following on central theme. (Middle School)
VA7 Traveling Tokens
In this engaging hands-on workshop, we will explore how to construct our own arts activism project as we each create a unique Traveling Token. We will be referencing Project Based Learning (PBL), art history, technology and social media within our collaborative project design. Inspired by new ideas in our making and discussion, you will leave with new insight and a toolkit to promote your own positive social action arts project. (Elementary, Middle, High School)
VA8 Telling Stories With Pictures
Author and illustrator David Hyde Costello will give a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of some of his picture books. Concepts of illustration in storytelling will be explored with hands-on activities you can bring back to your students. Please bring: Pencil, paper, and eraser! (Elementary, Middle, High School)
Session 3: 12:30-2:00
VA9 Handmade Paper Landscape Collage
Using various handmade textured papers, participants will create a collage landscape or seascape, to experiencing the art of collage and the power of the elements and principals of design. The designs will be reminiscent of Japanese woodcuts and color field painting. The simplicity achieved in this work, is the beauty of it. Shapes and color will create perspective and will move the eye around the work. (High School)
VA10 Long Exposure Pinhole Cameras – No Chemicals Needed
Connect technology, art, and inquiry. Learn how to upcycle soda cans into functioning pinhole cameras. Loaded with light-sensitive paper, the exposure time for these cameras is anywhere from three days to a year! Cameras pointed towards the sun will record its path across the sky. Paper negatives are scanned and inverted in the computer alleviating the need for darkroom chemicals. Teachers will leave the workshop with a camera loaded with light-sensitive paper. A website link will include project ideas as well as “flipped classroom” video demonstrations that can be immediately used in the classroom. (Elementary, Middle, High School)
VA11 Integrating Indian Art Into The K-12 Visual Art Classroom
This presentation will focus on a variety of contemporary and traditional Indian artists, their techniques, and materials. Topics addressed will include the established elements and principles of art as well as the cultural context, the symbolism, the influence of religion and the social commentary. Lesson ideas that facilitate integrating these concepts into the art curriculum will provided. (Elementary, Middle, High School)
VA12 Rediscovering Joy and Self-Compassion with Mindfulness
We all know how overwhelming our lives can be and how easy it is to forget about ourselves when life is so busy.This workshop is a time to focus on just you. It’s a time to rediscover compassion for yourself. A time to revive joyful moments throughout the day.Come explore the art of mindfulness. Learn the magic of using breathing to activate the relaxation response, how to recognize our triggers and how our habits of thoughts and emotions shape how we relate to ourselves and to others. The session will involve experiential exercises, practicing mindfulness strategies, and exploring how self-compassion can enhance our emotional stability, improve resilience, and our capacity for collaboration.This program is for you if: You’d like to feel less stressed at work, You want to stop feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list, You’d like to feel happier and have a more balanced life, You’d like to quiet the noise in your own head for a little while, or You don’t have a lot of time, and you need to integrate these practices quickly and easily. (Elementary, Middle, High School ART, MUSIC, THEATER)