The Saginaw Art Museum

Wednesday, November 12 parents drove us to the newly remodeled Saginaw Art Museum.  We toured rooms that had once been part of the Ring family mansion (including finding a hidden door!), and also the modern new addition.  We were amazed at the size of some of the paintings and sculptures and briefly toured the temporary display of WWI posters.  Afterwards our guide led us to the art classroom where we used watercolors to paint whatever each third grade artist chose.  Lastly, we enjoyed the formal gardens attached to the back of the former home.  Thanks to Jada's mom, Mary Parks for the attached photos.

STEAM

Have you heard of STEM?  STEAM is similar and stands for lessons that encompass Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics.  On Reformation Day/Halloween we used M and Ms for a lesson if this type.  Did you know that the red dye used to make M and Ms is more expensive than other dyes?  Rare is the package of M and Ms that has more red than any other color.  We also found out that each small package doesn't always have the same amount of M and Ms.  Graphing helps us look at the data.  To include art we planned an arrangement of our candies and then placed them carefully in water.  The color gradually floated off, creating wonderful, but temporary images.  The second packet of candies was tasty too!

Insect Interviews

Today the third graders hosted the "Da da da da!  Insect Show!"  Each had the opportunity to act the part of the interviewer, complete with microphone, and the interviewed insect guest.  We had some great costumes created at home to add to the fun.  Good job third grade!

Great Website

I had a great experience at the Michigan Pastors and Educators Conference these past two days in Dearborn, Michigan.  A presenter and exhibitor there was the organization Answers in Genesis.  This is the Christian group that I used for my information on the 7 Cs of Creation and the 8 Fs of Dinosaurs several weeks ago in our Faith Studies class.  The people at the conference recommended the link below.  There are short videos about animals, the flood, creation, and a host of great topics.  Games are also included.  You may want to try it out with your family.  I thought it was great.

https://answersingenesis.org/kids/ 

Mini-Sculpture Park in Bethlehem Third Grade Room

Working together, the third grade had its very own mini-sculpture park at the back of the classroom.  Just as the Frederick Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids has a sculpture by Alexander Calder, our mini park had 18 of them!  You'll see students working together to "install" the art, and setting up the Lego people to view it in the pictures below.  Thanks third grade for working as a team!

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Vertebrate experiences

Science:  Classifying animals.  As we have learned about the different groups of vertebrates (animals with a backbone) we have had two unique experiences.  Tuesday we viewed and touched real bird nests.  We were amazed at how each type of bird makes its own style of nest.  The goldfinch and the barn swallow were especially unique.  We took turns dissecting a bird nest.  What a lot of items birds use to make their nest strong, yet soft!

On Wednesday we learned about mammal characteristics.  Then we got to touch real fur from animals from the continents of Africa and North America! Elephants have very thick skin.  Muskrat and mink are very soft.  Caribou need their thick fur to survive the cold arctic.  It's pretty awesome to be able to truthfully say, "I've touched a lion and zebra!!!"

Mondrian style art

Friday Art:  Piet Mondrian is an artist whose primary color rectangles with straight black lines has been widely copied by Nike, Volkswagen and clothes designers.  The third graders designed their own skateboards and snowboards in the style of Mondrian.  They turned out great!  One student thought that a coffee mug should be designed in the style of Mondrian.  I think he is right!  I want one!