On Friday, I taught art at my kids' school. I had such a great time. Having had procrastinated all month long on the projects for the three classes, on Thursday night I was dreading the fact that I would have to spend all night working on those projects. As luck would have it, when I was telling one of my friends late that evening that I was teaching cubism to the three classes the next day but I hadn't prepared any project yet, she offered her own cubist activity that she had used at her kids' school. What a relief! And her cubist drawing was simple enough that even K-1 could accomplish, so I didn't have to do any projects of my own except the power point presentation on cubism.
I'm really having a wonderful time teaching art and art history to these kids. Every time I enter the K-1 class (James's class), they shout my name with joy. The 2-3 class (Jefferson's class) are a bit more reserved, but they love the art history part. Their eyes are glued at the paintings I show them and they are very attentive at the comments and questions I make. The 4-5 class (Gillian's class) are not very fond of the history part, but they love the analysis of various paintings. I had one students exclaim in front of the whole class how fun it was looking at art with Mrs. Garmon. I call them my clever band of detectives, because they try very hard to decipher the paintings with the clues I give them. Needless to say, I have a lot of fun playing the mystery artist as well.
After talking and analysing cubism and cubist paintings, the kids embarked into their projects. My friend had drawn a face on a grocery paper bag in the cubist style, and after they were all done she had all the kids put the bags (with their faces drawn upon) over their head. She had then taken a picture of all of them together. I did the same, and the kids loved the idea. Thank you, Janelle, for helping me out, and for an awesome activity.
K-1(James's picture is the one with one part green and part blue - his favorite colors.)
2-3 (Jefferson is standing opposite me on the left with a drawing of peach and light blue)
This is Gillian and her friend (4-5)
This past week was also packed with music practice for all of us. I enjoyed singing in two different choirs, and Gillian and James didn't lag behind with their choir rehearsals either. Since performance time is coming close, besides their usual Wednesday one, they also had a mass rehearsal with all levels practicing together. Gillian was excited to have been chosen for a small solo part, and since we are allowed to record them this year while performing, you'll all be able to actually see it when I post it on the blog. James still doesn't know all the words of the songs, but it's just fun to see my shy blondie perform in front of everyone.
Gillian had her voice training this week, and as I have said before this is my favorite time of the week for me. Hearing her voice and listening to her teacher, who has this amazing ability to help Gillian reach inside herself and give it all, is just beautiful. Gillian is still practicing traditional classical pieces such as Panis Angelicus and Amazing Grace, various renditions of Christmas carols, as well as some new religious songs sang by different Christian singers. One of these days I will remember to record one of their sessions, but till then here is a picture of these two beautiful ladies making the room sound heavenly.
Today my kids were off school, observing Veteran's Day. Charlton had been invited to his best friend's birthday party, and so we dropped him off, and then I took the older boys to have their haircuts. When we stopped by to pick up Charlton, he was donning a cool superhero cape (the party's theme was superhero, and Charlton had chosen to be Spiderman), and looked very handsome. I could tell my older boys were a bit envious, so when my friend asked me if my other kids would like one of their own, I totally said yes. And Hillary, thank you so much. My kids played with those capes for hours, and I had time to clean up my house which had become messy after a busy week-end, and write this post. I love it that one piece of fabric can spur such wild imagination in my kids for hours at a time. Here are some fun pictures I took this afternoon:
As I was thinking about imagination in our children, a thought occurred to me that imagination is as important in little kids as it is in adults. We all need imagination to perform better in what we do professionally, but also to see life in brighter colors. It's imagination or lack of it that helps us or deters us in seeing the invisible steps toward our happiness. I personally would rather be a Peter Pan for the rest of my life, but I know that's not possible in a life full of responsibilities. However, I believe that if we approach life with a Peter Pan lightness of spirit, we would each be happier. My kids' imagination is spurred by books and dress-up clothes and many other things. For me books also open my horizon and make my imagination go wild, but what gives me a lightness of spirit is looking at art and listening to music. They bring me peace of mind, take me to places all over the world as if on a magical carpet, and open up emotions I never knew existed before. What things in this world stimulate your imagination?
