Franklin Middle School, Melodee Strong, 6-8th grade, 5 hrs
This week, I began working on my lesson plan for Franklin and have also been working on my library gallery show, that opens next week. I was at Franklin on Wednesday again this week and Ms. Strong and I decided on doing a cross-stitching lesson for the 6th grade students. I am excited to teach this lesson as I have been learning cross-stitching myself over the past several months while interning for local fiber artist Wone Vang. This past weekend, I assisted her and her sister, Youa, at their Artists-in-Action event at Minnesota Museum of American Art. I feel like this experience helped prepare me tremendously for what I have planned for Franklin, through explaining the technique to folks and helping them create their pattern.
This past week, I helped students at Franklin design their objects for their clay projects, and seventh graders were working on their “Monsters” project. Their designs consisted of front and back views of their Monster. Ms. Strong started the class with a presentation of examples including Monsters Inc., Godzilla, and the Addams Family. She placed emphasis on the importance of texture, characteristics, and personality of one’s monster. I think this project is a lovely way to have students focus on what can be achievable through ceramics, and to have them create something fun.
Eighth graders were finishing working on their ethnic mask projects. Students that weren’t finished on Wednesday finished their pieces, and I was so impressed by the attention to detail and emphasis on structure in these pieces. I also talked to Ms. Strong about how to help students constructively and not create their project for them or take it into the teaching artist’s hands. She mentioned that asking questions and letting the student sit and think is helpful; returning later to check-in. She also emphasized that silence isn’t always a bad thing.