Trainee Art Docents spend time in Schools

Last week the 2012-13 trainee art docents spent some time in the classroom to get a feel for teaching art to real students. One trainee assisted with a 5th grade one-point perspective class. In this lesson, students are introduced to linear perspective drawing to create depth on a 2-dimensional plane using a t-square. To help the students understand the activity, the art docent lead gave examples to the children from their own experience, such as playing a computer game like 'Mine Craft'. 'The use of real life examples makes it more relevant to the students,' the trainee said.

Another trainee helped out with the Clay Bears & Quail class in 4th Grade. This hands on lesson involves the students creating a bear or quail from clay. They learn how to form a base shape to work from and then mould the features of the creatures. The animals are both symbols of California and dovetail with the 4th Grade curriculum in Californian history. The art docent trainee enjoyed helping students to shape the clay.

The 3rd grade Starry Night class was attended by a third trainee. This class was being taught as part of a unit on the solar system. The students learned sponge, spatter and pinpont painting techniques to produce comets, nebulaes and stars. They were encouraged to think about composition, focal point, balance, foreground and background. 'The paintings turned out looking spectacular with the bright primary colors against the black paper.'

The trainees were excited to have been involved in the classroom and found the classroom teachers to be very supportive. The children were well behaved and engrossed in producing their own original work. The new art docents were keen to return and further their experiences.