305 Celebration Artwork and More!

Last week may have been a short week, but it was certainly not lacking in creativity.

I started the week with my first graders on Wednesday. I absolutely love their enthusiasm for art. It is truly contagious. Almost every day, when they see me in the hallways, they ask, “Ms. Ibert, do we have art today?” And I patiently smile and say, “Not today, but I’ll see you next Wednesday.” Their excitement reminds me of why I love teaching art.

First Grade Meets Piet Mondrian

This week we talked about Piet Mondrian, a very well-known artist who used primary colors in his work, along with black and white. I was pleasantly surprised that some of the students already knew about him because they take art classes after school. We definitely have some young artists in the making.

We discussed primary colors and the geometric shapes Mondrian often used in his paintings. Then, the students created their own cats in Mondrian’s style. They were so excited to get started and immediately got to work. The classroom was filled with focus, color, and creativity. Each cat was unique, bold, and full of personality.

Project 305: Celebrating Miami

With my Thursday and Friday classes, we worked on a very special project about our city: Miami. We called it “Project 305.”

I explained why the number 305 is associated with our city, and together we explored what makes Miami so unique and full of charm. The students shared wonderful observations. Some talked about the warm weather and beautiful beaches. Others mentioned the traffic. Many recognized iconic places like the lighthouse and the famous lifeguard houses on the beach. Some students brought up the Everglades and typical local wildlife, such as iguanas and alligators.

After our discussion, they began creating their own landscapes inspired by Miami. As always, they did not disappoint. Their drawings were vibrant, colorful, and full of life — just like our city.

Our Principal will personally select some of the best pieces to display on the school bulletin board and to use for the Miami 305 celebration on March 5. We are very excited and proud of their hard work.

A Special Moment at the 40th Watercolor Exhibition

To end the week on a high note,  on Saturday, I had the honor of accompanying Emma to the 40th Watercolor Exhibition, where her artwork was selected to be displayed alongside many beautiful watercolor pieces.

We are all incredibly proud of her. The Principal, some friends, and other teachers came to show their support too. Seeing her work "Nine Lives of a Cat" exhibited was such a special moment for our school community. Emma’s dedication and talent truly shine, and we know she has a bright future ahead as an artist.

Thank you to our students for bringing so much joy and creativity into the art room each week, and thank you to the families who continue to support and encourage their young artists at home. Creativity is alive and thriving in our school.

Valentine’s Week in the Art Room: Spreading Kindness & Friendship!

Last week, our art room was filled with Valentine’s spirit as we spread love and friendship vibes everywhere! From 1st grade all the way to 5th grade, students worked on special projects that reminded us that Valentine’s Day isn’t only about love—it’s also about friendship, kindness, community, and caring for one another.

2nd–5th Grade: The Mysterious Friendship Bookmark!

Our 2nd through 5th graders worked on a very exciting project called the “Mysterious Friendship Bookmark.” Before starting, we talked about how Valentine’s Day can be a time to celebrate not only people we love, but also the friendships we build and the values that help create a strong classroom community.

Each student created a bookmark by writing a message about friendship, kindness, respect, or gratitude, and drawing an image that represented those ideas. After that, they decorated an envelope, placed their bookmark inside, and sealed it.

Here’s the twist…Students did not write their names on the envelope—only their grade and teacher. Next week, each student will receive an envelope from another student, without knowing who made it. That’s the mystery!

It’s such a wonderful way to spread kindness and love, without expecting anything in return. Just pure positive energy! 

1st Grade: Valentine’s Cards & Fine Motor Fun

With our 1st graders, we made Valentine’s Day cards full of hearts, bright colors, and sweet messages. Along the way, we practiced important skills like cutting and gluing.

Learning how to properly use scissors and glue may seem simple, but it plays a huge role in developing fine motor skills, hand strength, coordination, and creativity. And now that children spend more time on screens than ever before, these hands-on activities are more important than ever! 

The students created beautiful cards to take home and share with the people they love.

Art Club: Extra Sparkle and Creativity!

Our art club students also joined in the Valentine’s fun! They used scissors and glue to create cards, but added something extra special: silver markers 

The silver details gave their designs a magical touch, and the students were so proud of their work when they took their cards home.

Valentine’s week was truly a reminder that art is not only about creating—it’s also about expressing feelings, building community, and sharing kindness. 💗

Also, I received a hand-made card from a 3rd grade student, and it was absolutely lovely!  Between the chocolates and the kind messages, it truly made my week. Thank you all for spreading the love!

Stay tuned for next week’s activities! 

Basquiat Week in the Art Room!

This week, some of our classes finished up our Jean-Michel Basquiat-inspired projects, and we finally got to do the fun part… scratch art!

Students started by drawing either a person or Basquiat’s famous dinosaur. After that, they added lots of symbols, words, and fun details around their drawings—just like Basquiat did in his artwork. Once their designs were complete, they colored everything in using black oil pastels to create a bold, dark layer.

Then came the best part…I gave each student a wooden scratching stick, and they scratched through the black pastel to reveal the “inside” of their drawing—showing bones, muscles, and organs. The results looked like true Basquiat masterpieces! Many students even scratched extra patterns and decorations into the background, making their work even more creative and unique.

As usual, I selected a few student artworks to display on our bulletin board. Students always get so excited the next day to see if their artwork was chosen! I love watching classmates stop and look closely at the pieces, sharing comments and compliments. It’s a great way to celebrate their hard work and creativity.

On Wednesday, my first graders played a super fun art version of Simon Says. They had to follow Simon’s directions by drawing different shapes and objects on their paper. Everyone stayed focused and laughed a lot while creating their drawings. At the end, students colored in their entire composition, turning their “Simon Says” drawings into colorful works of art!

My Thursday students completed the project we started with Ms. Villalba. They already had their black silhouettes painted with black tempera, and this week they added white oil pastels to create bones and organs inside their bodies. The results were amazing! It was such a cool and creative twist on Basquiat’s style, and every student’s work came out different.

Whenever we learn about a new Artist of the Month, students complete an artist reflection. This helps them remember what they learned about the artist, and it also gives them a chance to think about the artwork—whether they liked it or not, and why. It’s always interesting to see their thoughts and opinions!

This project was a wonderful way to begin our celebration of Black History Month, and the perfect opportunity to learn about Jean-Michel Basquiat—an incredible artist who helped open the door for a new generation of young Black artists.

We are so proud of our students’ creativity, effort, and imagination this week. Basquiat would be proud! 

Artist of the Month: Jean-Michel Basquiat

Last week in art class, I introduced our Artist of the Month: Jean-Michel Basquiat!

Since we are celebrating Black History Month, I wanted to highlight an artist who not only had a bold and unique style, but who also helped open doors for a new generation of Black artists. Basquiat was a very controversial artist in his time, but he always stayed true to his own voice. His artwork was full of energy, meaning, and incredibly vibrant colors. The students were especially amazed when they learned that in 2017, one of Basquiat’s paintings sold for 110 million dollars! Their jaws literally dropped.

Basquiat and his 110 million dollar painting!

To make the lesson even more fun, I showed them a Basquiat-inspired drawing I created during a workshop and asked them, “How much do you think I could sell this for?” Of course, they all said it was worth thousands of dollars and that I should definitely try selling it. (We had a good laugh!) 

After a short introduction about Basquiat’s life, we began working the way he often did: with strong, vivid colors. The students used oil pastels to create a colorful base layer. This was the first step in preparing for next week’s project: Scratch Art, a really exciting technique where artists create several layers of color, and then cover everything with a dark layer, usually black. After that, they use a wooden stick or a pointed tool to scratch away parts of the black layer, revealing the bright colors underneath. Next week, our students will get to try this part—and I know they are going to love it!

Some students finished their colorful backgrounds early, so they began creating self-portraits inspired by Basquiat. They used bold colors and added thick black lines to outline their faces and features, just like Basquiat often did. The results were expressive, creative, and full of personality!

On Wednesday, with our first graders, we worked on creating shapes and figures using colored paper. They were incredibly creative, cutting, arranging, and inventing their own characters and designs. It was so fun to see how each student had a completely different idea!

That same day in Art Club, the kids discovered my magic texture machine—and they were thrilled!

They couldn’t wait to try making textures like hearts, flowers, butterflies, and more. Once they had their textured pieces, they pressed them into colorful clay and created all kinds of unique figures and designs. It was definitely one of the highlights of the week!

On Thursday, we had a special visit from my colleague Ms. Villalba, and we explored Basquiat in a different way by experimenting with multiple materials: tempera paint,  spray watercolors, and oil pastels. Mixing techniques gave them the chance to explore texture and color even more freely—just like Basquiat did in his own artwork.

Next week, we will finish our Basquiat-inspired creations, and I can’t wait to see the final results. I know the artworks will be vibrant, bold, and full of personality, just like Basquiat’s style. It’s been a wonderful way to celebrate Black History Month while learning about an artist who made history through creativity, courage, and originality. Stay tuned, our classroom is about to get even more colorful!