CET Newsletter October 21,
2016
http://www.chufsd.org/schools/carrie_e_tompkins_es
Message from the Principal,
Mrs.
Kelly Maloney
Dear CET Families, This week local artist,
Joe Mullins,
worked with all third and fourth grade students during their Art class. Mr.
Mullins introduced third graders to Nature Printing,
a technique that uses the surface of a natural object,
like a leaf,
to produce a print. It was developed in the Middle Ages to help those gathering medicinal plants. With the help of Mr.
Mullins,
each student created their own leaf print using a banana leaf or a fern. This interdisciplinary connection supports the third grade science unit “How a Scientist Investigates Plant Cycles”. In the fourth grade art classes,
Mr.
Mullins demonstrated a Japanese art form known as Gyotaku,
fish printing.
Gyotaku was invented in the early 1800’s in Japan by fisherman to record their catch. Fisherman would hire artists to make a print of their prized catch in order to document the size and types of fish caught.
Fourth graders made their own prints of a bluefish from the Hudson River or a porgie from the Long Isand Sound.
In addition to showing them how to make a fish print,
Mr.
Mullins talked a bit about the types of fish found in the Hudson River. Thank you to Mrs.
Lafuente for organizing Mr.
Mullins visit,
and for the PTA for funding these presentations.
Each student will be going home with their print. Third grade students continued their study of plant cycles at Bear Mountain this week where they had the chance to observe and identify various trees and plants.
In December,
third graders will have a visit from an educator from
Then and Now who will demonstrate how people use all plant parts. Fourth grade students took part in a Native American Day today.
Working with educators from Madden Farm,
students made jewelry,
examined artifacts,
played games,
learned about and made False Face masks as well as learned the important role of the beaver. Hands-on experiences like this helps students gain a better understanding of the life in the “olden days”. Once again thank you to our PTA who paid for this special learning experience. I hope you will be able to attend our first PTA Principal’s Coffee on October 26 at 9:30 am.
Our art teacher and librarian will be sharing how they are incorporating the principles of engineering and design into activities and projects. Just a reminder that if your child will be attending the YMCA afterschool program,
please send in a note regarding their change in dismissal. Please consider following us on Twitter @CETElementary. Warmly, Kelly |