Exploring Design, Cubism, and STEM Through Art

Wow, wow, wow! What a week!

We have been very busy refining our logos, and the results were truly amazing. My students were incredibly creative and took their role as graphic designers very seriously. The variety of logos they produced was impressive, honestly, many could rival professional designs! They did a wonderful job understanding the concept and requirements of the design process, and they combined colors thoughtfully and wisely. Most importantly, they had so much fun working on this project.

On Wednesday, I also spent time with my 1st graders, where we explored Cubism and learned about Pablo Picasso. We played a game called “Roll a Picasso with Ms. Ibert.” The students rolled dice and drew different facial features based on the number they rolled, which eventually came together to create a Picasso-inspired masterpiece. When they saw their final drawings, they burst into laughter.

“Ms. Ibert, this looks weird!” they said, until they realized that Cubism shows objects from multiple angles at once, so it’s meant to look different and funny. What a great learning moment!

Later that day, we had Art Club, and the excitement was contagious. Using real branches, we created a “cotton tree.” Students added color to the cotton leaves using food coloring and water, and the results were beautiful. They were very careful and intentional with their color choices, creating truly wonderful masterpieces.

On Thursday, we hosted STEM Night at our school. I was assigned a colorful spinner balloon activity, and it was amazing to see the kids’ excitement as they watched shapes and colors appear when the balloon spun. It was a perfect example of how art, math, and science can come together in a fun and meaningful way.

Finally, on Friday, I attended a workshop where we learned how to create botanical cameraless photography using sunlight and chemicals. The afternoon session focused on collage and weaving. I learn so much every time I attend these workshops, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to grow, learn, and be inspired by my colleagues and fellow educators.

What a full, creative, and inspiring week!