Where is the Orange, Purple, and Green?!

Check out these awesome observational drawings!  

Students reviewed how to draw complex objects by breaking them down into simple shapes, then adding lines to show detail!

    Students used an ultra-fine point black sharpie marker to do the basic line drawing of their objects.  Once it was time to add color, students were given watercolor pencils.  But they quickly noticed something.... they only had  red, blue, yellow, brown, white, and black... So hands quickly shot up into the air requesting the missing colors.  To the student's surprise I reacted as though I had never heard that there were more options within watercolor pencils and explained they would have to think back to previous lessons to solve this problem.  

  

     

     Immediatley discussion began about what two colors make green, purple, and orange.  Students quickly realized that...

RED + BLUE = PURPLE

YELLOW + BLUE = GREEN

RED + YELLOW = ORANGE

   Students did a great job layering the water color pencils then adding water on top when finished to turn the average looking colored pencils into magnificent paint!  Check out the amazing results the students of first and second grade achieved!

**Parents:  Color mixing is a great concept to review with your students over the winter holiday. For younger students, read the story Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh!  For older students ask them to describe colors using the "Ish".... for example, rather than a color being blue, it could be "blue-ish, green-ish"  for this, have students read the story Ish by Peter H. Reynolds!!

The Holidays are coming... is your shopping done?

It's a busy time of year and many parents are wondering " whatever will I buy my friends and family for the holidays?".  Well, check out
Bancroft's online GIFT SHOP

through artsonia.com to purchase personalized items such as ornaments, mugs, t-shirts, pens, notecards, keychains, and much more with your child's artwork on it!

These make the perfect gifts!  

This site is maintained my Ms. Foy and the students as well as thanks to some wonderful parent volunteers and highlights all the artwork our students are creating.  You can create a parent account with an e-mail so you receive an update every time new art is published by your child.  Family from all over the world can write notes about the artwork to the students and become a member of their "fan club". Now, just wait... I haven't shared the MOST exciting part.... are you ready?!

Artsonia.com  donates 20% of all purchases back to the ART ROOM at our school!!

Through purchasing with artsonia.com you are not only giving someone an amazing gift, but you are also giving your child the gift of the latest art supplies and materials!!! 

And so...... LET YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING BEGIN!

**If you do not know your child's ID name/number for the site, please find Ms. Foy, or e-mail her for it at msfoysartroom@gmail.com !!**

       

 

What's New in the Life of Ms. Foy?! DUBLIN !!!!

Meet Dublin! No, not the city! Ms. Foy's dog!!

 A lot of my students ask me about where I live, and when I respond with "in a house", they give me a shocked look as to why I don't live in school, well recently (2.5 weeks ago) Paul and I got a dog!  He's an adorable four year old brittany spaniel named Dublin!  He is a wonderful little furry friend and so far my students have LOVED to learn about him and even see a picture or two.  He is a hunting dog and so he loves to look out the window(as you can see, he thinks he fits on the top of the recliner!). 

He's super fun and hyper and LOVES kids and all people and other dogs. At the end of a fun day at the dog park and walking through Alexandria, he  crashes on the couch!  Hope you enjoyed this little insight into the life of Ms. Foy!   Maybe Dublin will get to visit Bancroft sometime during the PS/PK Pets Tools of the Mind theme.

IPAD MINI in ACTION!

Happy Monday!  Check out this quick update on how students are using the Donors Choose Ipad Mini in the classroom!  We have been using it to upload our artwork to an online gallery called artsonia.com! Check out the process here!

Exploring DC with Earl the Squirrel!

Fall has arrived in Washington, DC and we all know what that means, the dreadful sugar highs of Halloween, a month of multiple 3 day weekends, and of course the beautiful changing colors of the leaves!

I can't express in words how amazing the story pictured to the left is for not only exploring scenes of Washington DC, but also of showing the changing of the leaves.  This project is done with my Pre-K 3's and 4's and they absolutely love it.  

    We start by having Earl the squirrel come out (yup, my old TY Beanie Baby-remember when those were cool?).  We then read the story and throughout look at the different architecture we recognize as well as the colors of the leaves.  After reading the stories we make collages with pre-cut green grass shapes and a brown tree trunk, and students glue scraps of paper as leaves.  The most unique part of this process is looking at what students choose.  At this age color is something students take seriously, or are still very playful with.  Some students will stick to digging out only the yellow, red, and orange scraps to achieve a "true" fall tree collage however some students will end up with purple, gree, blue, pink, and a variety of colors on their trees, and THATS OKAY!

I find that many times as adults, we want students to do the projects exactly as we have planned in our minds, and so to some, purple leaves or magenta leaves are not okay, but for me I love to ask the students about why the leaves are those colors.  You wouldn't imagine the responses of what those colors represent whether it is fruit within the trees, animals, or "ummm, because I like this color.".  It's crucial to let your students and children make their own artistic choices. Let them show their voice and express themselves through their art!  

 

Donors Choose Status: FUNDED!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO

SUPPORTED MY DONORS CHOOSE PROJECT OF AN
IPAD MINI FOR THE ART ROOM!!!

I continue to be so thankful for the many people in my life and the world around us who are so supportive of advancing art education in our schools today.  I cannot even begin to tell you all how gracious I am.  This project was funded in under a week thanks to all who helped by donating, spreading the word, and sending their thoughts my way!  

Me, Chelsea, and Leigh!

 

So... Some Special Thanks!!!

 

CHELS and MRS. LEIGH: I've known you both for...hmmm...roughly 17-18 years now? For those
who don't know, Chelsea is my best friend, and Leigh is her Mom! You have both always supported and helped my love of art grow and made me into the teacher I am today, THANK YOU!

CENTRAL OFFICE staff including Brian Pick, Amanda Boggs, and Heather Holaday and many others: thank you so much for providing me with opportunities such as these to expand my practice.   Being supported by your district is crucial and knowing that these people understand the importance of art education keeps me going!

ESIN OZDAG: Although we've never met you have changed the lives of my students as well as my experience as a teacher.   Thank you SO very much for donating to this project.  It means so much to know there are supporters out there amongst the political drive of DC. 

ANONYMOUS and MATCHING DONOR: I cannot say thank you enough not only from myself but all the other teachers out there who you have helped by donating or matching gifts for.  Educators today feel so supported by you all, and although I'll never meet you, you will always hold a dear place in my heart!

ATTENTION ATTENTION!!!! Donors Choose Project is Up and Running!!!

Have you heard of Donors Choose? 
        It's a great site where teachers can post projects online that they need the supplies funded for I've
        done Donors Choose twice before for sketchbooks, as well as for supplies to create marbled
        paper!  Well, now I'm hoping again for a funded project so I can have a IPAD MINI for my
        classroom!

Now, many of you are wondering...
        "Why do you need an Ipad?".... 
 
       Well, besides the fact that it is the constant source of music which my students LOVE... I would
        like an Ipad specific to the art classroom so it can be used by students to research images, create
        art on, explore art history, and also to upload artwork onto an online portfolio system. I also
        would like to use it as a resource for students with special needs to help them further engage and
        interact with art.

The Bottom Line is...
      We live in the 21st century where technology is crucial to student success and students need to have
      these experiences and skills to succeed in our technology driven world.  I'm hoping that this Ipad
      will begin to provide my students with those experiences and who knows, maybe one day I'll have
      a class set of Ipads to use!!!

Let's Get This Project Funded!!!

Share this project with your friends, families, businesses, co-workers, art appreciators, and anyone else who wants to make a difference within the art room!

It's Easy... Just Click This Link!!!