I will be teaching K-8th graders a spring water experience. Students' eyes will begin to observe the natural world around them from another perspective, maybe even a turtle or a dolphin’s perspective. I will adapt the study of water through art for the K-8th grade students that I teach at the Worthington Hooker School. This unit can be used to teach high school students as well.
Students will see water value in: nature growing say fruit veggies sunflowers, the path of draining water, weather patterns (including rain, flooding, sea levels rising, etc), drinking water, contaminants, water that mollusk shells, the nautilus shell, snail shells, all need water. Students may consider whirlpools, and more. I plan to teach whirlpool inside my google slide show.
Students will all create one water work of art to display on the bulletin walls of the various water possibilities everywhere! Students in all grades will participate in a virtual “sit spot” in the classroom since water is not nearby. I am excited to share “sit spot” as a tool to help students learn to stop and take a pause for either an outdoor experience, or an indoor mindful experience to deepen their focus and observational skills. Students will make connections as well as develop their five sense observational skills during this “sit spot” experience considering water near me or what is their own relationship with water?
Water Flow Connection Study Grades K-1st
K-1st students will begin to gain knowledge that water is a natural resource. Students will create water waves with shaving cream for a sensory experience. Students will use fine motor skills and sensory experience when making shaving cream waves. K-1 will also create water compositions and water dolphin turtle compositions. Water will be introduced to all students by briefly viewing interactive teacher created Google Slide Show and videos embedded within the Water Flow Connection slideshow. Water picture books will be shown. Students in lower grades will use mixed materials as well to make water creations.
Water Flow Connection Study Grades 2-4
Students in grades 2-4 will view teacher- guided google slideshow to see some teacher-led information on water flow connection to help students easily navigate later on as a sneak peak of Water information. If the students can bring chrome books to class then students will have part of a class to navigate or play with my google slide show in pairs. All internet surfing guidelines will be discussed. The 2nd-4th grade group will have “choice” with pencil, crayon, and water color for their water art composition and or direction as well. Students in grades 2-4 will then select what kind of water composition they are considering. After receiving some language arts and water inspirations, 2-4 grade students will create black out poems, shape poems, or short illustrated water stories. Grades 2-4 will use literacy to connect with water as a kick off and as a recap.
Students will read I Love you, Blue by Barroux. Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale by Marcus Pfister to gain friendships for underwater sea life. Students will then peer share feelings as to how these two books have anything to with the question What is your relationship or friendship with water. Students will then create an art composition showing water and friendship. The students will have “choice” again as to which materials they want to use. I am going to encourage background ideas and foreground ideas using differing materials. I find 2–4 grade students do even better when they have two assignments going at once. For example creating a detailed sea creature, creating a splish splashy background. Two assignments creating one composition. This allows students to be on task while waiting for something to dry or when stamina or focus becomes a challenge. Students can also reflect on literacy and water again.
Water Study Grades 5-8
This age group contains my focus group. Students will engage in a step by step explanation of the water S.T.E.A.M. unit in my overview section below. The focus group will then be on a deep dive learning experience in water (no pun intended). Students in the 5th grade level will use technology and art to articulate their water flow connection unit both visually with technology and in mixed media. The students in this age group will gain skills socially and emotionally as well with collaborations and technology independence. Students will create water compositions with varied materials. The students in grades 6-8 will be exposed lightly to this unit just as the lower grades. Grades 6-8 will not be creating a slide show unless they wish to for extra credit.
Water Study Grades 9-12
For High School students, this water unit of study would make a great fall opening assignment to immerse students in immediate S.T.E.A.M connections. Beginning the school year with having students work independently to select the direction in water of their choosing. This will enlighten where the students are in their own thinking, learning styles, and how they make connections to water. This unit of study could almost act as a pre-test to gauge you how fast or slow you will have to design other units and this unit will allow you to see who your learners are. After teaching high school students for over five years I know this unit would make a great opening learning opportunity for students in grades 9-12 and a great way for the new teacher to immediately learn about the new class makeup of students. Teachers can take all focused group plans and modify them accordingly. Teachers can make a copy of the teacher water flow connection slide show and then add other items if they wish to elevate the example.
