Chihuly!

G.A.T.E. students have been diving deep into research about Dale Chihuly and his art of glass blowing.  This past summer Mrs. Shurett (Gifted Teacher at Evans), Mrs. McCulley ( Assistant Principal at Evans) and I attended an international gifted conference called Confratute at the University of Connecticut.  After our week of learning and sharing with other gifted specialists from all over the world, we spent a weekend in Boston, Massachusetts.

One of our first adventures in Boston was visiting the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.  Through the Looking Glass, an exhibit of Dale Chihuly's glass art, was first on our list!  The bright colors and swirling shapes of his art mesmerized us for hours!  Mrs. Shurett and I were so inspired by this artist's work that we both decided to study Chihuly and create "Chihuly-ish" art in our classrooms!

Both 3rd and 4th grade G.A.T.E. students are learning how to conduct research using our Independent Investigation Method (fondly called IIM - Double I M) in our classroom.  There are seven steps to the IIM method:  topic, goal setting, research, organizing, goal evaluation, product, and presentation.  Together we are using these steps to learn about Dale Chihuly.

Our classroom has been filled with paint, glitter, spray paint, pipe cleaners flower, tissue paper, streamers, coffee filters, markers, balloons, ribbons, clay, glass gems, glue, spray starch, and liquid starch.  We would not win the "cleanest classroom award" this week, but the artwork that we have created would be considered "masterpieces" for sure!

Our dream is to hold a "Night of Chihuly" where students' Chihuly-ish art will be displayed and students can share what they have learned about this great artist.  Incorporating technology in our night will be fun with the podcasts created in GarageBand on iPods for our guests to use to listen about all that fills our museum.  Students will also create invitations, brochures, and posters to commemorate this event!