Both Art Club groups had a relaxing class doing Chinese Sumie painting.  This art form uses bamboo brushes to gracefully put expressive brushstrokes of black India ink on the paper.  The ink is then watered down to create washes.  Red is used sparingly to sign the artist's name or emphasize a small but important part of the painting.  We used examples of authentic Sumie paintings of nature.  Students also practiced creating Chinese calligraphy symbols for words such as peace, unity, strength, etc. to sign their work.  

Art Club has been working on thinking of 2-dimensional images as 3-dimensional form.  We learned how to draw animals in terms of shapes to then create our clay sculptures.  We now are drawing patterns of animals and then cutting out each shape to then trace on fabric .  It helps us see two-dimensional drawings as 3-dimensional shapes.  The paper patterns are then drawn and cut out of fabric.
Students then were taught how to layer and sew the pieces together to create stuffed animals.We learned how to tie knots, sew productively, stuff, sew buttons, etc.  Students made a variety of projects and learned a great life skill.

In STEAM Club we are working on a fun unit on rubber band powered propeller projects.  It's all about potential energy, kinetic energy, drag, friction, and balancing all of the above.

It has been super challenging but rewarding to get our projects to move.  STEAM Club is all about problem solving, testing, and redesigning until each student gets their project to perform.  Helicopters are tough to get to go up since the paper body must be just right to create enough drag for the propeller to go up.  Many different styles, lengths, and placement were tried.  

We are now creating cars powered by rubber bands and propellers working with friction with no drag wanted.  Students are building axles and car bodies so that they first roll smoothly.  We then built the rubber band propeller apparatus to be attached to the car body.  We will be racing this week.  

Our unit will wrap up with rubber band powered rockets which will bring in the discussion on mass and momentum.

4th graders are coming to CLIC this week and next week working collaboratively in groups to come up with innovative ideas of how alternative energy sources could benefit Proctor School.  We began this project by first creating models of Proctor School based on aerial view photographs.  We learned how to make cardboard models of buildings using a scoring and folding building technique.  It was amazing to see the students map out and build the buildings.  They then went on to create the surrounding landscape to show area mountains, rivers, and other features that would influence the energy source they chose.  Students are now beginning to build spinning wind turbines , solar panels, geothermal piping, and hydro generators.  I  enjoy seeing the children decide what new materials and building techniques they will use to create impressive models.  

There are big changes happening in CLIC before and after school clubs.  I have decided to change things up for many reasons.  Students are changing their band, sports, and after school commitments so I am going to be offering 5 week block classes. Another big change is I will be having parents sign up online.  

In February, CLIC will be offering the following 5 classes:

Tuesdays at 8 am- STEAM Pinball Machine Design Class
Tuesdays at 3pm- Proctor Pollinators Project 
Wednesdays, 8 am- Chess Club
Thursdays at 8 am- Writers and Artists Workshop
Thursdays at 3pm- Landscape Painting Class
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You can see full class descriptions and days we will meet on the Class Sign Up Page.