“To create a work of art is to create the world.” ~ Wassily Kandinsky
Dear Families and Friends,
In just a few short days Mrs. Grunewald’s fifth graders made some amazing connections between birds and trees. Starting with an examination of bark, they used their scientific skills to draw, then incise a plate and print a tree.
This morning they took a closer look at the bird they had chosen. In order to include the most salient elements on their bird collagraph, they listed its features in their journals. This process helped fifth graders notice the overall shape, the length of their bird’s body and feathers, its beak, and some other unique qualities.
“This is really complex,” one student remarked as she saw her bird take shape on the page.
We were delighted to hear about kids’ experiences in nature at our morning meeting. Two children talked about owls they’d seen up close. One student told us how she recognizes spruce bark. “Spruce tree bark is thin. It always has flaky pieces of dried moss on it.”
By the end of the morning every child had printed his or her bird and drawn the ecosystem where the two might reside
We asked fifth graders why they thought LEAPS of IMAGINATION was important for kids. Here are some of their thoughts.
“It gives them a new way of thinking that they never thought of before.” “It teaches us that we can make art out of anything.” “Kids use their creativity to make something new.” “It teaches kids how to re-use pieces that people aren’t using.” “It’s educational and it’s fun.” “It gives us a new way of drawing.” “It helps kids use their imaginations more.” “It helps kids work together.” “It brings creativity out of people.”
We are so thrilled to have had the opportunity to work with Mrs. Grunewald’s class – kids who in three mornings have created a new way off thinking about the natural world.
A big thank you to Justin Bennett and the South School community for making us feel so at home, to Maine Community Foundation and RSU 13 for funding LEAPS at South School, and to Mrs. Grunewald for working so closely with our artists at every twist and turn.
We know you’ll all love seeing the artwork on the school walls!
Nancy, Susan, and Dee
LEAPS of IMAGINATION 
I hope to see more of todays journal drawings. I was helping at the printmaking station and I see from these pictures that the students were taking another leap and diving into their imagination of what their birds environment looks like. The ones pictured here are wonderful.
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” ―Albert Einstein
Great work everyone!