The Daily Special: Last Post of the School Year

We did it! We made it to the end. Congratulations! 

For our last video of the year, we made one last Daily Special video to celebrate all we accomplished.
Have a great summer! 

VIDEO LINK HERE

Mrs. Clayton's last day at UES was last Wednesday. Things happening in the world seem tough and weird and maybe even a little scary. She created one last message for you to remember when things feel bad. Enjoy! and Goodbye! 

VIDEO LINK HERE

Lastly, we do not want to leave you empty-handed for the summer. We want you to know that The Daily Special will stay active over the summer, and you can come back ANYTIME to do the activities we posted. We have included links below to make searching by subject a little easier for you: 

Movement Monday          Tuneful Tuesday          Wellness Wednesday

Terrific Technology          Artful Thursday            Freybrary Friday
Note: You can also use the labels on the right hand side of the page. 

HAVE A TERRIFIC SUMMER!!!! 

Artful Thursday #7: Making Memories!! (Part Two)

Welcome back to Artful Thursday! Please watch this video with Mrs. Kane and Michelangelo to start:

Then, choose ONE of the following projects for your art time capsule from last week OR just for your wall at home:

• Map Of a Memory. Materials: paper, your choice of drawing or painting supplies. Click HERE for directions, click HERE for video demonstration
• Memory Collage inspired by artist Romare Bearden. Materials: Paper, scissors, glue, photographs, fabric, construction paper, magazines, old books or clothes.... Click HERE for directions, click HERE for a video demonstration. Enjoy this read-aloud of "My Hands Sing the Blues", a wonderful book about Romare Bearden!
• "Spicy" Painted Portraits. Materials: paper, kitchen ingredients (spices, coffee grounds, tea, food coloring... your choice!), paintbrushes or cotton swabs or other household items. Click HERE for directions, click HERE for video demonstration.
• Stitching a Story Pictures - inspired by an amazing art tradition called ARPILLERAS from Chile! Materials: Cloth, scissors, glue, needle, embroidery or thick thread. Click HERE for directions, click HERE for video demonstration

Here is this week's slideshow of all of the "Making Memories" artwork you shared! Please send us photos of your artwork by next Wednesday morning to be included in the Grand Finale final Artful Thursday slideshow! (You are welcome to send us any art projects from past weeks as well that you didn't get a chance to share!)

Click HERE for the slideshow of all of the yearbook cover design entries sent in by third and fourth graders! Well done, everyone! Lastly, our office hours are cancelled today. We hope you will join us again next week! It will be our last Artful Thursday and we have something special and super fun planned!

Week of May 18-22: Artful Thursday #6: Making Memories! (Part One)

Hello! Please start with this short video from Mrs. Kane, Michelangelo and Oso the Dog:

We are living in a historic time! This week, you are invited to make some memories in one of these ways:

1. Make an ART TIME CAPSULE! What is a time capsule? It is kind of like a treasure chest for your memories, thoughts and feelings that you save for years and and years and open on a special day in the future. Here are directions about how to make a time capsule! This week you can create your box and start collecting things. Be thinking about what are some things are interesting or different about this time. This could be an activity for your whole family! Next week we will share some ideas for special art that you can create to put inside your time capsule.

2. Be a FORT ARCHITECT! An architect is an artist who designs buildings and spaces. You can draw your dream fort, or build it inside with cardboard boxes, blankets and comfy pillows, or build it outside with materials from nature.

The yearbook design slideshow will be up next week. We LOVE seeing and sharing all the artwork that you are creating! Here is a gorgeous Ansel Adams photo by Petra that I missed posting!

Are you ready for the first ever UES Movie Fest?? (7 minutes total) Grab your popcorn and check out all of the cool animations, puppet theaters and crankies created by UES artists last week:

Week of May 11-15: Artful Thursday #5: It's Showtime!

Do you LOVE watching movies or cartoons? Have you ever thought of them as Art before? Here is a short video from Mrs. Kane and Michelangelo to start:

Then, click "Read More" below and choose ONE of the following Art lessons! 

Week of May 4-May 8: Artful Thursday #4: Spring Surprises!

Spring is full of joy and surprises here in Vermont. Please watch this short introduction from Mrs. Kane and Michelangelo the Monkey to start:

Then, you are invited to choose ONE of the following art lessons ...

Special Art Announcements from Mrs. Kane!

YEARBOOK COVER (AND BACK) DESIGN CONTEST!!

It’s that time of year again.  We are having a yearbook cover and back contest!  Any third or fourth grader is welcome to make a submission.  One entry will be chosen for the front of the yearbook, and one for the back.  ALL ENTRIES WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE YEARBOOK! Entries must be sent to Mrs. Beaupre by Friday, MAY 15th.   (One entry per person, please!) You can scan/email them to LindaKB@mpsvt.org. Here is a letter from Mrs. Beaupre with all of the details, and here is a video from Mrs. Kane with some design tips!

ART SUPPLIES FOR STUDENTS!!! 

The amazing MRPS PIE group is collecting donations and has been giving art supplies out to families. If you are a student in need of some basic art supplies, please let Mrs. Kane or MRPS PIE know! Please email kristinak@mpsvt.org or mrpspie@gmail.com. You can learn more about MRPS PIE (and how to donate!) by visiting their website!  

Week of April 27-May 1: Artful Thursday #3: Earth Art!

This week's theme is Earth Art, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day last week! Please watch this video with Mrs. Kane and Michelangelo the Monkey to start:

Then, choose ONE of the following lessons (in order from simple to challenging)

• NATURE'S PAINTBRUSHES: (Materials: mud, branch, paper or bark) Play and paint with mud and discover branches, stems and sticks for paintbrushes! HERE is a video from Mrs. Kane
• NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY: (Materials: cell phone or camera) Listen to the book ANTSY ANSEL about the famous photographer Ansel Adams. Then try nature photography yourself with a camera or a cell phone! HERE are your directions.
• ALL SPECIES DAY MASKS: (Materials: scissors, glue/tape, pencil, paper plates/cardboard, your choice of coloring supplies) Make a mask for All Species Day! HERE is a video about this annual Montpelier tradition! This year's celebration will happen virtually from 12-12:30 this Saturday, May 2nd! Watch Mrs. Kane's video on paper plate mask making or click HERE for directions. Visit All Together Now's website for all of the virtual event details!
• LIVING THINGS RECYCLED SCULPTURES: (Materials: hot glue/masking tape/duct tape, scissors, rubbish from your recycling or trash bins) Enjoy watching a short video about sculptor Angela Haseltine Pozzi and then create a sculpture of a living thing from materials from your trash or recycling bins. Display in your window or lawn for All Species Day!
• SUSTAINABLE BASKET WEAVING: (Materials: yogurt container, scissors, a pen or marker, yarn/paper/ribbon/plastic bag) Get to know Judy Dow, a local Abenaki basket weaver, and try weaving a basket from a plastic container from your recycling bin. HERE is the video demonstration, HERE are visual directions

Please send us a photo of your artwork to kristinak@mpsvt.org! We would love to see what you create and to include it in next week's slideshow! Here is the slideshow of all of the "Artfully Ever After" artwork from last week.

Mrs. Frey and I are excited to host our first Meet for UES students and families TODAY from 11-1! Please check with your parents and caregivers about it. We would love to see you and your artwork or hear about your reading, or just say hello!

Spreading Positivity Art Project - Final Slideshow!

Here is the final slideshow of all of the Spreading Positivity artwork! Thanks to all of the artists of all ages who created art to share with the community and the world. Special thanks to Montpelier musician Paul Boffa, who wrote the song "Share the Love" with UES first graders a couple of years ago (those students are currently in third grade!) and was happy for this song to be included in the slideshow. Enjoy and have hope!

Week of April 13-17: Artful Thursday #2 - Artfully Ever After!

Mrs. Kane and Michelangelo the Monkey have some magical art lessons for you! Please watch this video to start:

Then, choose ONE of these lessons for your artful adventure this week (in order from simple to challenging)

• CASTLE DRAWINGS - Click HERE for video. Click HERE for visual directions. SUPPLIES: Paper, your choice of drawing tool (pencil, crayons, colored pencils, markers, pastels…)
• DRAGONS ON TINFOIL - Click HERE for video. Click HERE for visual directions. SUPPLIES: Tin Foil, Sharpie Marker, Colored Markers, Scissors, Glue, your choice of background paper and coloring or painting materials
• UNICORN MARIONETTES WITH TOILET PAPER TUBES - Click HERE for video, Click HERE for visual directions. SUPPLIES: Toilet Paper Tubes, Scissors, Glue, Cardboard, Ribbon/Yarn/Dental Floss for strings, your choice of coloring or decoration materials for skin/mane/tail
• STUFFIES IN SHINING ARMOR - Click HERE for armor design video from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Click HERE for visual directions. SUPPLIES: Cereal box or paper or cardboard, scissors, tape or hot glue, your choice of decoration materials 
• TRANSFIGURATION TIME - Click HERE for video with guest, Mr. Kane! SUPPLIES: Cardboard, scissors, tape or hot glue, your choice of decoration materials. Please save these creations for the next Artful Thursday - you'll find out why soon!

Here is the first slideshow of the Spreading Positivity Art Project! If you are still working on your sign, please send in your photo by Tuesday 4/28 to be included in the slideshow's final version (on Thursday 4/30!)

Artfully Yours,

Mrs. Kane

Week of April 6 - 10 Artful Thursday #1: Your Choice: Spread Positivity OR Make a Sketchbook!

SPREAD POSITIVITY ART PROJECT

Did you see the video from Mrs. Francke and me yesterday? Check it out and click HERE for the directions! 

We hope you will join us in our community Window Art Walk to Spread Positivity!! 

We will make a video of ALL of the photos you send us of your artwork. 

Please send us your photo by Tuesday, April 14th. The video will be here on our blog next Thursday! 

MAKE A SKETCHBOOK

First, check out this short video starring Mrs. Kane and her new assistant Michelangelo the Monkey! Then, CHOOSE ONE of the following sketchbooks to create (in order from simple to challenging):

• SCROLL SKETCHBOOK (K-2):Click HERE for video demo, Click HERE for written directions
• Supplies Needed - long piece of paper/packing paper/paper grocery bag/birch bark, tape/glue, sticks/straws, string or ribbon
• ACCORDION SKETCHBOOK (K-4):Click HERE for video demo, Click HERE for written directions
• Supplies Needed - long piece of paper/packing paper, tape or glue, scissors, cardboard or a cereal or cracker box
• CEREAL BOX SKETCHBOOK (K-4):Click HERE for video demo, Click HERE for written directions
• Supplies Needed - Cereal box or cracker box, printing paper or other paper, string, a hole puncher
• SPINE SKETCHBOOK (3-4): Click HERE for video demo, Click HERE for written directions
• Supplies Needed - printing paper or other paper, two rubber bands or string, a pencil or stick, a hole puncher

I hope that you enjoy creating! Please send me a photo of your artwork at kristinak@mpsvt.org. 

Artfully Yours, Mrs. Kane

Week of April 6-10 Spreading Kindness and Positivity

Week of April 6-10  Wellness Wednesday - Spreading Kindness and Positivity 

Hello UES students and families.  Please watch this video for an activity that will spread positivity to our community and beyond.  We miss all of you and hope that everyone is staying well and finding lots of ways to spend your time at home that are creative, helpful, kind, and most of all fun!

Here are some directions from Mrs Kane:

And here is the video version:

Please share your messages of positivity with us and the greater Montpelier community.  And check out my post about making a journal below, lots of options for you. Be well!

Welcome to the Daily Special!

Welcome to The Daily Special, brought to you by your UES Specials Teachers! Click HERE to watch our "Hello" video. 

You are invited to join us every weekday for new lessons and activities. We are excited to take turns posting each morning for you to enjoy here on this blog. 

Weekly Schedule

• Movement Monday with Mr. Williams & MJ (Physical Education)
• Tuneful Tuesday with Mrs. Clayton (Music)
• Wellness Wednesday with Mrs. Francke (Guidance) and Tempting Tech with Mr. Jarrad
• Artful Thursday with Mrs. Kane (Art)
• Freybrary Friday with Mrs. Frey (Library)

We truly miss seeing you all at UES! You are always welcome to send us an email with questions, share your learning and work from home, or just say hello! We would LOVE to hear from you!

Mr. Williams: EmmanuelR@mpsvt.org

MJ: MJ@mpsvt.org

Mrs. Francke: SuzanneF@mpsvt.org

Mrs. Kane: KristinaK@mpsvt.org

Mrs. Clayton: jessicaclayton@mpsvt.org

Mrs. Frey: MaritaF@mpsvt.org

Mr. Jarrad: Jeffreyj@mpsvt.org
HOOT HOOT! 

Mrs. Francke, Mrs. Frey, Mrs. Clayton, MJ, Mr. Williams, Mr. Jarrad, and Mrs. Kane