Tech & Art in Miss Lukins's Classroom - Thank You Donors!

I started a GoFundMe campaign to encourage creativity in my classroom during Teacher Appreciation week, as GoFundMe will match $100 raised for teachers!  Your generous donations have not only enabled me to earn the $100 from GoFundMe, but to also begin purchasing fun arts & crafts supplies for our upcoming Renaissance Faire! On June 2, 2016, students will be dressed in character as eminent people from the Renaissance era displaying their creative and innovative PAST-PRESENT-FUTURE posters and artifacts at a school-wide faire (see photos from last year's faire)! Thank you again! Every bit counts and students will have a blast, thanks to you! As one big class of 100 students, we're hoping to reach (or even exceed!) the $1000 goal, so spread the word! Thanks again!

Click here (or the image below) if you would like to donate to encourage student creativity in Miss Lukins's classroom!

(You can also read the full campaign description at this link and see more photos of how creativity and innovation are already at work!)

Modern Galileos Travel to the Moon and Mars!

Students, pretending to be Galileo, simulated his experience looking at the Moon through his telescope by using modern technology--Google Earth--to travel to the Moon and Mars!  Students observed and sketched the surface of the Moon or Mars and shared their observations and drawings with the class, just as Galileo sketched the Moon and shared with the public during the Scientific Revolution era.  Then, students posted their findings and analysis on Edmodo to share their thoughts with the class, including how their observations connected to those of Galileo's, and they each wrote a hypothesis about the surface and structure of the Moon or Mars.  Enjoy the fun below!

Ninja Turtle Renaissance Art Activity

Students were thrilled to partake in the "Ninja Turtle Renaissance Art Activity" today!  Each student got a choice to pretend to be one of the four "ninja turtles"--more appropriately known as Renaissance artists--Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, or Raphael, and simulate their artistic style.  Leonardo da Vincis drew realistic portraits or objects, possibly even with a "futuristic" twist showing a possible future invention.  Michelangelos taped paper under their desk and drew a scene while lying on the floor to imitate Michelangelo's painting of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.  Donatellos sculpted an object or living being using Play-Doh or clay, while Raphaels drew a scene using one-point perspective, like his famous "School of Athens" fresco.  After drawing, students commented on their own artwork explaining their piece using descriptive language and color symbolism.  Finally, the class participated in a "Gallery Walk" in which they walked around enjoying each others' artwork, while commenting on several pieces using the VTS strategy "Connect, Extend, Challenge" (What can you connect to the Renaissance person you are currently studying for the Renaissance Faire Project?  What extended your learning or what did you learn from an art piece?  What challenges you still or what more are you curious about?)  Enjoy the fun and the artistic talent below!

Check out "Michelangelo"s in action sketching on the "ceiling" of their desks!