"Without
art we are just monkeys with car keys." - Anonymous
Welcome
to Mr. O'Donnell's Art Room!
Please browse through the information and links to learn about our
visual art program and how you can help. Educate yourself about art
education and become an advocate.
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My
visual art program is dedicated to providing children with the
skills and knowledge needed to create, view, and understand
a variety of visual media. This in turn will inspire and encourage
creativity and problem-solving skills through exploration of
a variety of artists, ideas, techniques and media. These experiences
will be fun, challenging, and mind-expanding.
The
arts, perhaps more than any other subject, help students to
understand themselves and others. The arts help us to explore
new worlds and see different perspectives while sharpening our
imaginations, intellects and critical skills. The arts connect
to everyday life as well as other subjects including language
arts, science, social studies and math. We live in a visual
world and through art education students can become creators
of visual culture, not merely consumers. |
A
student places an animal print into the drying rack. |
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Syllabus
"ART
stands for Attitude, Respect and Try"
"Never
Say Can't!"
Classroom
Rules
Always
come in silently
Respect
teachers, each other and yourself
Take care of
supplies
I'll clean
up after myself
Stand in line
quietly
Try
Rewards
-
Compliments
- "Treasure
Tickets"
- Stickers/Pencils
- "Smiley"
on class chart
Consequences
-
Warning
- Move
Seat
- Time
Out
- Detention/Parent
phone call
Procedures
Each
grade comes to art for 45 minutes except for Kindergarten which lasts
35 minutes.
Students in grades K - 3 also sing the Art class Rap at the
beginning of class:
"Here
we are in art class;
it's better than the rest.
We're gonna learn a lot,
but there's 3 steps on our quest.
A is for attitude,
it has to be real good.
R is for respect,
and we'll give it like we should.
T is for try,
and our best we'll always do.
So now that class is starting,
we're listening to YOU!"
My
curriculum is a result of backwards design, meaning I begin with an
instructional goal and then work backwards to develop a schema of assessments
and experiences aimed at helping students reach that goal. My lessons
are both developmentally appropriate and standards based. Students are
engaged not only through multiple learning styles and differentiated
instruction but through my humanistic approach. Students utilize a range
of content and media in order to grow as self-reliant individuals and
problem-solvers.
Fifth
and Fourth Grade:
Big
Question: How do artists represent reality?
Project
1: Symbols - Create a symbol for you
Project 2: Photomontage Future - What you want to be when you grow
up
Project 3: Emotion Commotion - Emotion, line and color
Project 4: 3-D - Shapes and objects
Project 5: Perspective - Draw your favorite room.
Project 6: Sequence/Cause and Effect - Create a comic
Project 7: Time - Animation
Project 8: Self-Portrait
Third
and Second Grade:
Big
Question: How do artists see the world differently?
Project
1: Seeing details - Be a detail detector
Project 2: Seeing temperature - Warm and Cool colors
Project 3: Seeing feeling - Monochromatic Mood
Project 4: Seeing architecture - Animal houses
Project 5: Seeing through walls - Interior peek-a-boo book
Project 6: Seeing our homes - Community map postcard
Project 7: Seeing abstraction - Printmaking with animals
Project 8: Seeing movement - Action Collage
First
Grade and Kindergarten:
Big
Question: Where do artists get their ideas?
Project
1: Imagination - Line Drawings
Project
2: Nature - Primarily Colorful Flowers
Project 3: Outfits/Costumes - Pipe-cleaner Clothing
Project 4: Memories - Geometric Shape Collage
Project 5: Fears and Fantasies - Organic Shape Monsters and Texture
Project 6: Nature - Textured Animal Masks
Project 7: Feelings - I feel cold/hot when...
Project 8: Imagination - Symmetrical Prints
Project 9: Imagination - Puppets and Form
Project 10: Books - Illustration
Project 11: Observation - Self-portrait
*Projects
listed above, along with their order, are subject to change without
notification.
^Several lead-up and follow-up assignments, as well as discussions
and critiques will occur throughout the year.
Assessment
Students
will be assessed in a variety of ways including:
- Rubrics
- Peer
Assessments
- Discussions
- Reflections
- Portfolios
- Oral
Presentations
- Tests
& Quizzes
- Participation
- Conduct
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Wish
List
The following
items may be dropped off any time throughout the school year. Thank
you for help!
-
Washable
markers
-
Pencils
-
Erasers
-
String
-
Yarn (scraps and balls)
- Cloth
scraps
-
Glue
-
Empty Coffee cans
- Magazines
-
Q-tips
-
Cleaning supplies
-
Paper Towels
-
Kleenex
-
Glitter
- Duct
tape
- Small
knick knacks and light (preferably flat) junk
To
volunteer in the Art Room please e-mail Mr. O'Donnell at: jamesodonnellart@gmail.com
As always any time you can spare volunteering is greatly appreciated!
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Fundraising
Help
get a Kiln! A kiln is a special oven for the firing of clay
and clay glazes. Clay is an essential part of a well-rounded visual
art curriculum. A kiln also requires a ventilation fan and hood for
health reasons. Help us purchase the equipment by participating in
the following fundraisers and encouraging others to do the same:
1st
Annual Your Town Elementary Art Show
Date: ?
Location: ?
Reception: ?
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Arts
Day
 |
Every
year we celebrate the arts by bringing visual art, music, and
dance together for an entire day of fun and expression. In honor
of visual art, students are invited to experience a wide range
of art activities such as a graffiti wall, puppet place, clay
cave and scribble station. Arts Day depends on parent volunteers
and we always need help. You do not need to know anything about
art or music. If you or someone you know can help, please e-mail
Mr.
O'Donnell and thank you for your support! |

Drawing
Club
Drawing
Club meets once a week to develop artistic skill, teamwork and friendship.
Only 4th and 5th graders can join. Drawing Club will meet every Thursday
beginning in October. If you would like to become a member please
download the application/permission slip below.
Download
a Drawing Club Application (PDF)
Student
artwork is displayed at our annual Art Show,
throughout the year outside the art room and other locations around
school. Please stop by to see the great work!
Online
Gallery
Examples
of work by current and previous students
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Web
Quest
A Web Quest
is a self-guided, interactive internet learning experience.
COMING
SOON
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Bio
Mr. O'Donnell
is an artist and art educator. He graduated summa cum laude from the
University of Florida with a Bachelor's in Art Education and minor
in Art History in 2004. He worked both during and after his graduation
at the Center for Instructional Technology and Training at UF as a
graphic and web designer. During and after his college career Mr.
O'Donnell also served as Student Chapter President of the National
Art Education Association and on the NAEA web committee. His teaching
career began as a student teacher at Littlewood Elementary in Gainesville,
FL under the esteemed Tish Kilpatrick. He remained in Gainesville
and took his first job teaching both art and yearbook at Howard Bishop
Middle School for two years. He then moved to Atlanta and established
the visual art program at Stone Mountain Elementary. Mr. O'Donnell
loves working with young people. When not at school he can usually
be found with his girlfriend and their two cats making art in his
spare time.
Teaching
Philosophy (pdf)
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