OVERVIEW
The Art in the Classroom Program is entirely run by volunteer parents and is funded by the Otter Lake PTA. Our program budget is about $1,500, which equates to approximately $2.55/child.
Four times throughout the school year, starting in December, classes visit OLE’s Art Room. A Classroom Lead teaches an art concept with visuals, art pieces, and props. They introduce the lesson project based on the art concept and works with other Volunteers to help students create a hands-on art project. Lessons typically take one hour. Each class also receives a two-part lesson in clay with increasing difficulty each year. We are fortunate to have a kiln at Otter Lake in which volunteers fire the clay projects. AITC is not scheduled during the month of Art Adventure, which is scheduled in November. Volunteers are encouraged to take part in both AITC and AA programs.
LESSONS
It took more than 186 hours for volunteers to research and design OLE’s AITC projects and corresponding lesson plans and discussion notes. These projects were created to support a child’s artistic development as he or she progresses through grades K-5 and focus specifically on four key concepts: Line, Texture, Shape and Color.
Every lesson includes:
- A discussion on the art concept (Line, shape, color, texture)
- The art project lesson plan
- Project art samples
- All project supplies and supplemental materials (music, books, etc.)
The Art Program Team reviews the lessons before each new school year. If you have suggestions about how to enhance existing projects (or want to introduce new ones) please contact the Art Program Team. We’d love to hear your ideas for 2016-17!
CLASSROOM LEAD AND VOLUNTEER Roles / Responsibilities:
You may participate in the AITC as a Classroom Lead or as a Volunteer.
All those participating in Art must complete a Criminal Background Check. Please see Ursula in the front office.
As a Classroom Lead, you will:
- Schedule art classes for the year based on your teacher’s availability
- Review the discussion notes, lesson plan, and project samples, prior to class.
- Lead classroom set-up
- Present the lesson to the class using the provided materials.
- Time commitment = approx. 2-3 hours/month.
As a Volunteer, you will:
- Assist the Classroom Lead by helping with set-up
- Assist students with their projects and clean-up
- Time commitment = approximately 1-2 hours/month
CLASSROOM LEADS – How to schedule your art classes:
Our program uses an online Google “Otter Lake Art Room” Calendar that was created by the Otter Lake Teachers. All Coordinators will be given access to VIEW the calendar, but only Teachers and Grade Level Coordinators have access to EDIT the calendar.
- View the Project Calendar to see what months your grade has projects.
- Contact your child’s teacher to determine a date and time for your art classes. You can schedule the entire year (e.g., the second Tuesday of each month at 10am).
- Classes can be held in the child’s classroom if the art room is taken.
- Have your teacher, or your Grade Level Coordinator, schedule your art classes on the Google “Otter Lake Art Room” Calendar.
- Please do not schedule your art class on the last or first day of the month. We will need those days for changing out supplies for the next month’s projects.
Teaching a lesson:
- Prior to your art class, visit the website to review Lessons Plans, Discussion Notes, and any other associated materials under your specific grade.
- A master hard copy of the lesson, discussion, etc. will be included in each grade level art box along with all the materials and project samples.
- **NEW** There will not be hard copies in folders on the inside of the art cabinet.
- The discussion notes will state the art concept being covered, and the art project that pertains to the concept. You may also find it helpful to research the topic on the Internet. If you find useful material please let us know so we can make copies for others. Please feel free to share this with your class in a way you are comfortable.
- There may be too much information within the discussion notes. Please pick out the most suitable for your grade level. Make sure you give enough information for the students to understand the art concept being taught, keeping your discussion to the first 8-10 minutes of class time.
- There may be books available that relate to the projects/lessons. You may bring your own books or those from the library.
- There are project samples hung inside the art cupboard. Please display them so the students can reference them during class. Please return them to the cupboard.
- Posters referencing the monthly art concepts may be hung on the walls near the windows. They are there for your reference and to use during your class discussions. Please feel free to take them down during your class if you need to.
Supplies:
- The Grade Level Coordinators will assemble all the supplies in the art cupboard on the first of the month. Please put everything back where you found it in order to keep things organized.
- Please arrive 20-30 minutes early to set up before your class arrives. The time needed depends on the project for that month.
- If prep work is necessary for the Classroom Lead, it will be communicated via e-mail.
Clay Projects:
- You will need to schedule only one of the two dates needed – the date for making the project. The second date to glaze the project will be scheduled by the Grade Level Coordinator since we have all classes glaze on the same day. Each class will be scheduled for 30 minutes of glazing. Then approximately 15 minutes will be scheduled between classes to clean-up and refill glazing bowls.
- Clay is located in boxes next to the kiln room.
- Clay projects require extra volunteers – it is advised that you ask your teacher to post a message on Schoology requesting more help.
- Plan for at least 30-45 minutes prior to class time to set up, and another 30 minutes following class for clean-up.
