LMCC - Creative Learning Grant Book of Home.8 6/15/2021

 

LMCC - Creative Learning Grant

Book of Home

 Blog 8 6/15/2021

Happy Dragon Boat Festival! Tuen Ng is celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month. It commemorates the death of Qu Yuan, a Chinese poet and minister known for his patriotism and contribution to classical poetry who eventually became a national hero. People make zongzi and share them with family and friends. In order to honor the day, we warmed up by paddling our imaginary dragon boat in a battle to win. Then we waved our winning flag!

Chi had recently visited the High Line to see the flower show and shared her beautiful photos on WeChat. It is a great medium for not only posting the recording of the day’s class but also for asking questions and sharing homework. It was great to welcome Bobo back to our class. We hope she enjoyed the experience and will log on for future classes. 

Some of our students posted the 2nd page they completed at home, and we honored their achievements by sharing photos of their artwork. Chi’s page told the story of her friend she met up with at a football field. Both of them have an interest in art so she made an artist’ palette and attached 2 brushes and inserted it in the pocket. Lily completed her 2nd page by drawing an anchor as a metaphor to describe her parents' relationship with her when she was growing up. This was in keeping with the nautical theme of her page. She included sea gulls in the foreground and made a lifebuoy as the object for the pocket with “Safe and Loved” inscribed. Her beautifully rendered mermaid aptly described herself as a “beach girl”, which was her choice for the Key Word.

Alice drew the wedding dress she made and the veil, for the objects in her pocket. Her Key Word was “good karma’ written in 2 hearts. She included interlocking rings in the foreground. Diana repurposed a magazine to make the pocket in which she placed a colorfully drawn jar. Situ’s 2nd pocket was made from newsprint, and she decorated the outside with a red bow. Inside she placed colorful drawings of long earrings. 

We revised the process for making a page and the 2 V Fold Stands as well as the pocket. Some students commented that they had forgotten how because it was a couple of weeks since they made the last page. It is certainly the case that we learn by doing. After this we introduced the concept of the “mockup”. This is an important technique to use when making a pop-up book. It allows you to make a model and practice on scrap paper until you have perfected the steps. Page 3 of the pop-up book will feature an extended page and the students mastered this technique.

They have already chosen the photo they want to use for this page, and we have asked our students to focus on the story they want to tell. For homework they will trace their image and collage the clothes of the figures ready to insert it into the page next week.