Category Archives: Expressive Arts

The Grumpy Sheep

We are learning to sing songs and follow a tune for our nursery nativity. EXA 0-16a

This week during gathering time we have been practising our nativity songs. We had to listen carefully to the music and words. We have also started adding actions to show what the sheep looks like when he is grumpy and happy. Miss Thompson and Miss Burton were very impressed with our singing skills.

 

Transition: Dazzling Dazzle Camouflage Art – P7 Art

P7 Art-Ms Thompson

Ms Thompson comes to Mid Calder Primary from West Calder High School every Monday and Thursday to work with all the Primary 7’s. This is part of our transition to High School and to make it easier to experience what it might be like when we go up to High School next August.

In P7, we have been learning how to draw Dazzle Camouflaged Spitfires. The Dazzle technique was used in World War 1 and 2. They put it on ships to confuse the enemy of what speed the ship was going, what side was the front and which was the back and what side the ship was from. (The Germans or the Britains)

L.I: We are learning to draw spitfires and camouflage them using the Dazzle technique.

S.C: We will be able to successfully complete our Dazzle Camouflage Spitfires and make them into models out of clay.

The skills we need to use are: concentration, listening, sketching, respect (to Ms Thompson) and a steady hand.

Firstly, Ms Thompson explained what Dazzle camouflage is, then we got all of our necessary equipment (A pencil, tracing paper and a picture of a spitfire) and we traced the picture of our chosen spitfire. Then we drew a grid on a fresh piece of paper and our tracing paper, we then transferred our tracing to the other piece of paper. We drew in all of the details and then we were on to drawing our design. We then got a piece of paper and drew our Dazzle pattern in black pen; it included a lot of different and unique pretty patterns. Next we had to block our design to ensure we could camouflage it correctly. Finally we had to transfer our design on to our spitfire drawing.

We know that our next step is to start modelling the clay into the spitfire shape. The clay has ARRIVED!

“It’s really enjoyable and it is preparing me for High School” Laura Mackay

“It is good fun and it calms me down” Lachlan McGukin

“It is super fun and it’s getting me excited for High School” Olivia Jones

“It is a fun experience and gets us ready for High School” Romany Moffat

“It’s very enjoyable and making me more confident in art” Neve Cormack

“I love to make the designs on the Spitfires and now I really, really like art” Millie Thomson

“Art is fun and it gets you thinking at the same time” Caitlin Black

“It is exciting but challenging” Andrew Vince

“You can imagine what you are going to make” Callum West

The Liv’n Harmoneez Kidz Choir

The Black Bull Function Suite

Mid Calder

Thursdays 6.30pm-7.10pm

Starts Thursday 5th November

Cost £4 per week

Come along and join our exciting new addition to Star Harmonies-

The Liv’n Harmoneez!

This is a new and exciting Choir for kids from P3 upwards where the emphasis is on fun and enjoyment as much as singing.

Singing is proven to boost your confidence, improve concentration and gives your body a good workout.

Come along, make new friends and sing some popular modern pop musical theatre and traditional songs in a welcoming environment.

To book a place and for more details phone: 07545 178310

Or e-mail-starharmonies,musicworkshops@gmail.com

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Rainforest Art in Primary 5

Learning Intention:

We are learning how to blend colours using oil pastels to create a piece of rainforest art.

Success Criteria:

I can use pictures and images to help me accurately draw a sketch of my chosen animal

I know what colours work well together to blend my pastels effectively

 

Through our rainforest IDL context, we have been learning all about the people and animals that live in the rainforest. Having already learned about different rainforest animals by researching then using our notes to create a fact file, we decided to use this knowledge to help us create a piece of art. We knew all about the appearance and habitat of our chosen animals and used this to sketch out an outline of our animal before exploring how to blend colours through the medium of oil pastels. We felt very proud of the end results, and we hope that you like them too!

Japanese Cherry Blossoms

LI: We are learning about Japanese cherry blossoms and why they mean so much to the Japanese culture.

SC: I can discuss why the cherry blossom are important to the Japanese people.

SC: I can create a cherry blossom, using water colour and printing.

The children researched why the cherry blossom trees were so important to the Japanese people.They found that in much of Japan, the flowering cherry trees (which the Japanese call sakura) come into full bloom around the beginning of April. April is the month when the new school year starts for Japanese children; it’s also the month when companies start their new business years and when many new graduates start to work. So the cherry blossoms make people think of new beginnings.

P7/6 commented on how beautiful and bright the cherry blossoms were, so we decided to create our own. The children chose either hot or cold water colours and used these to create the background. Next, paying attention to line thickness, they used black paint to create the sweeping branches. To make the pink blossoms the children chose to either use their finger or  use the base of a bottle to print. You can see the different effects on the photos below.

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P5/4 Rainforest Animal Art

Learning Intention – We are learning to create accurate images. (EXA 2-04a)

Success Criteria – I can carefully observe a photograph to create detailed images.

We searched for photographs on the internet of our chosen rainforest animals. Then we drew an outline of our animal onto black paper using black oil pastels. Next, we introduced some colour using chalk pastels. After that, we drew in a background for our image.

“I’ve never worked with chalk pastels before. It was ok but I didn’t like the feel of them!” (Cade)

“I’d not heard of oil pastels before but I enjoyed using them.” (Freya)

“I enjoyed researching on the netbooks with a partner and getting my hands messy!” (Kirsty)

“I enjoyed sharing ideas with my partner to help each other do a good job.” (Niamh)

 

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P6-5 and P5 Hat Workshops

Hat- Tastic IDL

Learning Intention

1. We are learning to create 3D sculptures which represent hat design for a purpose

2. We are learnng to use a variety of media and techniques to create our hat designs

Success Criteria
A successful design will have,
-a style
-a chosen base colour
-represent your personality
-2 elements in your design from the hat workshop

During the last two weeks, Primary 5 and Primary 6-5 have been very busy designing hats and learning about the design process. This will all come together in a final hat showcase at Howden Park Centre on the 17th June.

We first all had to read our design brief/challenge and then start thinking about how our hats would represent our personalities and be bright and colourful. During the design process, we recorded our ideas and thinking in our design journals. These entried included illustrations, sketches, labels, dates and an evaluation of each day.

We were lucky enough to have a professional Milliner visit us, Sally- Anne Provan, and she provided two hat workshops. These were fantastic experiences, allowing us to learn new skills from an expert and express our own creativity at the same time. We were measuring, cutting, gluing and working co-operatively during both of these workshops. In the end, the results were some amazing and individually styled hats!! We can’t wait to show them off next week to our parents. All parents are welcome to this event.

P6 are Launching Ahead in Art

Learning Intention:

We are learning to use recycled materials to design and make a space related object.

Success Criteria:

Our models must-

– be 3D

– resemble a real life space object

– be made from recycled materials

This week, the Primary 6s from P7/6 joined with the Primary 6 class and were given the challenge to design and make an object that you might find in space using recycled materials.

First, we sketched a design of our object then , when our plan was complete, we started to build. We had to use a real life picture of our object to help us. Michael, Ellie, Craig, Jamie, Lachlan and Kasse all made a space rockets, William made a space shuttle, Abby made the Hubble Telescope and Neve made a moon buggy. We had to use our knowledge of space from our learning in science, as well our craft, design and art skills to make our final objects. We  haven’t finished them yet, but we are sure they are going to look great.

“I really enjoyed painting and gluing my Hubble telescope to try and make it stand up on a tilt,” commented Abby.

“I thought it was one of the best things I’ve ever made and I really enjoyed it,” said Michael.

“Considering there were a few disasters, I liked getting messy with the paint,” added Neve.