An Arts Integration PD at Don Bosco Technical Academy

On Friday March 6, WP PIR Robin O'Brien and WP Art PIR Triada Samaras conducted two arts integration workshops for all teachers at the District-wide Professional Development Day at Don Bosco Technical Academy/DBTA. 

Above left: WP Art PIR Triada Samaras; right: WP PIR Robin O'Brien

 

Above left: Professor Samaras; middle: Dr An;  and right: Ms. Kaminski
Co-presenting with Ms. O'Brien and Ms. Samaras were DBTA science teacher, Jennifer Post, and art teacher, Patti Kaminsky.













                                  
Left: art teacher, Ms. Kamiski and below, far right: science tacher, Ms. Post

Above:  FLyer for the Professional Development Day at DB

Professor Samaras and Ms. Kaminski conducted the bookmaking workshop wit a large group of DB teachers.  Professor Samaras has been teaching three types of bookmaking techniques to content area teachers at DBTA this winter,  See LINK

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WP PIR Robin O'Brien and Ms. Post conducted the pendulum painting workshop for the rest of the DB teachers. Pendulum painting was presented by Professor Samaras at last summer's WP Annual Arts Integration Institute 2019. Ms. Post next used the pendulum painting lesson to teach an arts integration class to her 6th grade science class in November 2019.  See LINK.

Bookmaking at School 21 and Don Bosco Technical Academy

WP Art Pir Triada Samaras has been providing bookmaking lessons for teachers in various content areas and their students at both School 21 and Don Bosco Technical Academy in Paterson. 

Above: Professor Samaras demonstrates "Sqaush" books to Don Bosco ESL Bengali students

(See link for "Sqaush" books below)

Professor Samaras has encouraged teachers to use these books flexibly by using their creativity. The books can be created for any content area.  In the ESL class pictured above, Bengali students are studying a book titled "I am Malala" about a young, Pakistani education activist.

The teacher of this class, Ms. Chowdhury, will have students add content to the hand-made books from their study of this book.

In general, students like making the "Squash Book" which they have re-named the "Smash" book for their classrooms.  This book opens and closes like an accordion and requires math and folding skills similar to those needed for Origami.   

They have also learned to make another type of book, the Drum Leaf book, which requires a 24 hour waiting period for the glue to dry on the binding, and functions more like a small notebook. A third book they have learned to make is created from a single sheet of paper.  

Professor Samaras worked with another teacher and students at Don Bosco: Ms. Alejo and her ELA class.  After Professor taught the class how to make "Squash" books, Ms. Alejo worked with them independently to add content to the books.  

Above:  Ms. Alejo created this display of the books in the hallway of Don Bosco

At School 21, Professor Samaras has been working with the second grade teacher Ms. Bounouk, as well as her WP student teacher Ms. Abugosh, and art teacher Ms. Raquel Ford. Resource teacher, Ms. Gillispie, secured funding from Donors Choose for this project
 

Above and below images:  Professor Samaras works with Mrs. Bounouk. Ms. A. and Ms. Ford.

                          Above:  Professor Samaras works with Art Teacher Ms. Ford

Above:  Professor Samaras and Ms. Bounouk imagine a "Sqash Book" becoming a bridge.

In addition both schools are planning field trips to the William Paterson Ben Shahn Galleries where they plan to see a bookmaking and printmaking art exhibition, among other things.  In  this way, students and teachers will have a double exposure to the concept and use of bookmaking.

Art and Literacy at School 12

The focus at School 12 this year is combining literacy with a project based activity.  WP PIR Mrs. Sandler has been working with Mrs. Hall's class to that end.

Seventh graders in Mrs Hall’s class were reading the book The Giver. The story focuses on a Jonas who can perceive flashes of color while everyone else is devoid of seeing color. 

Students used the concept of  color to achieve various emotions. Using a simple cube students created patterns and designs to individualize their project.

Arts Integration: Van Gogh and Literacy at School 9

First graders at School 9 in Paterson were learning about the artist Vincent Van Gogh.

Students viewed several slides about the painting The Starry Night with Art PIR Mrs. Sandler and their first grade teacher. 

Above:  The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh

 Using crayons, students focused on a variety of line movements to create their Starry Night artworks..  

 Students were able to read many of the words in the Getting To Know The Artist book on Van Gogh by Mike Venezia.  When the students completed their pictures they recorded the information about the artist in their notebooks.  The classroom teacher elaborated on this project by helping the students with specific descriptive words.

Lego Robots at School 12

Students at School 12 created three dimensional robots using Legos.  This arts integration lesson was guided by WP PIR Simone Sandler in collaboration with the classroom teacher.

Packages of Legos were placed at each group and students had to select 20 bricks . While creating their robots the students could trade pieces are replace their selection.  

The literacy connection to this project was that each students had to draw their robot and answer questions placed on the board by the teacher. 

Students also had to focus on using descriptive words in their stories.

A New Makerspace at School 9

At School 9 WPU PIR Mrs. Sandler and teacher Mrs Albanese created a Maker Space room for the school.  

Currently, grades K through 4th are using the room that is equipped with over 30 various materials that can be used for creating hands-on projects. 

The photos below show a second grade engineering project using recycled styrofoam and geometric shapes. After they completed the project, students recorded the process in their notebooks.