Art & Language Arts Online

Teachers Explore Playful Activities in Day 3 of the Summer Seminar

August 1st, 2012 Theresa Sotto 4 comments

How can we make learning fun? By cultivating a playful spirit! And we certainly did just that in the third day of the Art & Language Arts Summer Seminar.

If you participated in today’s program, post a comment that describes one way that you can use play in your classroom to enhance student learning.

: Today’s media exploration focused on sculpture. Teachers came up with all sorts of imaginative sculptures using wire and clay.

: Teachers were encouraged to explore a variety of textures by using plastic utensils, straws, and modeling tools.

: Try using coated wire to add a playful, textural element to clay sculptures.

: Two teachers, two colorful bowls, two different ways!

: When given the opportunity to use your imagination, a variety of subjects emerge–both living and man-made sculptures were created.

: Our extraordinary and talented intern Iris Hu is to blame for all the fun teachers had while exploring clay.

: And museum educator Theresa Sotto is to blame for making teachers read articles after making art.

: Curator Charissa Bremer-David captivated teachers by describing the history of this magnificent bed.

: Charissa demonstrates the swiveling action of a chair on which Marie Antoinette once sat while her servants fixed her hair.

: It’s amazing to be able to peek inside desks we’re not allowed to touch. Thank you, Charissa!

: Can you see the mark of the desk’s maker near Charissa’s right hand?

: Charissa’s talk is both informative and entertaining, as evidenced by our huge smiles.

: We gaze up at a chandelier that was designed to hold goldfish in its glass bowl.

: Upper elementary teachers pause for a Kodak moment.

: Graduate intern Elizabeth Osenbaugh leads a tour of the sculpture collection.

: Teachers look closely at the textures that Bernini was able to render in this marble sculpture when he was only 19 years old.

: This object is affectionately known internally as the “little pot.”

: Museum educator Kelly Williams explains a writing activity that teachers can do with our decorative arts collection.

: Teachers tell their partners about all the details they can find in a work of art.

: Our period rooms are terrific places to go to transport students back in time.

: Inspired by Franz Xaver Messerschmidt’s Vexed Man, teachers created their own expressive heads thanks to the guidance of teaching artist Judy Blake.