Art Workshops - working with artists July 13, 2007
Posted by Linda in : project based learning , 2comments 
The main display in the hall - end of day three, originally uploaded by hydra arts.
Hydra Art Workshops are a group of artist who work in schools in the North West of England. I’ve been a fan of their work for sometime and I particulary like this recent project. They worked with 78 Year Six pupils to produce several panels for the main hall. The children who took part were presented with certificates to mark their involvement but I think the lasting impact for them will be the knowledge that their work will remain on view in the school now that they’re moving up to High School.
This kind of continuity in school can easliy be overlooked. A Leavers Assembly or a party are lovely but it’s quite powerful for children to feel that some part of their work will continue to be valued. At my last school Year 6 usually worked on a leaving gift for the school. We were lucky enough to have an artistic learning mentor but we never managed to afford ‘real’ artists. Often it was an art work for the hall, although one year they made a musical washing line for the circle garden. We felt it was important for the school to mark their departure in this way. The works were well liked by later children, some liked to remember brother’s or sister’s involvement. Sometimes when children came back for various reasons they were quite touched to see their work still on display.
Hydra Arts said:
when we were originally booked for the workshops, i absolutely wanted to mark the fact that the year 6 pupils were leaving primary school and wanted them to all be involved in the same process and contribute to a collaborative art project
Do you have experience of working with artists in schools? Did you find it worthwhile? How do later children view the art? Please tell your story in the comments.
learning styles February 8, 2007
Posted by lmhartley in : Uncategorized , 1 comment so far 
learning styles, originally uploaded by LindaH.
This display caused a long and thoughtful discussion about learning styles in the Classroom Displays Group on Flickr.
I’ve got mixed feelings about the validity of the tests especially for young children. I’d love to know what other people think about them.
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Martin Luther King Jr. Day January 15, 2007
Posted by lmhartley in : Seasonal, history , add a comment 
Martin Luther King Jr., originally uploaded by ppv918.
Today is MLK Day in the USA. It’s a day of service and giving to the community. There are lots of related resouces at ActivityVillage (a UK site) which might also be useful for Black History Month in the UK.
Patricia writes:
Our bulletin board for Martin Luther King, Jr. The children wrote down their dreams on the wings of the doves. I think it came out beautiful. Let me know what you think.
I like it very much and I think the simple design works well. What do others think?
Edublog Awards Finalist December 10, 2006
Posted by lmhartley in : Uncategorized , 4commentsThis blog is a finalist in the Edublogs Awards 2006 in the Best Audio and/or Visual blog category. Voting closes midnight GMT Saturday 16 December 2006.
I feel a bit like a child whose work has been chosen to go up in the head’s office. I’m really pleased, slightly embarrased and I wonder what some of the vistors will make of it!
The children in Year 4 choose their own work to go on this board. All they have to do is ask for work they are proud of to be added. Lovely idea 
Snowflakes November 30, 2006
Posted by lmhartley in : Seasonal, winter , 3comments 
Snowflakes, originally uploaded by LindaH.
Sometimes displays are for the staff as well as the children. I like this one very much.
