Practicing Cooperative Creativity

A little interactive fun with some of our group collaborative work using technology!

These girls were really funny; always talking about how they
were going to work together but not always achieving
success in those endeavors.

First graders completed a Rizzi City project a few weeks ago.  Our next project was to further explore Rizzi by working collaboratively to create a mural of a city.   Students worked in groups of 4-5.  It's alway interesting to see what will happen with a collaborate project.  Some students do terrific with this style work; others struggle.  You quickly can identify those who will take on leadership and will moderate the group and those that will hang back and wait for instructions from the self appointed group leader.  You also will identify those that will attempt to engage as little as possible.  I always tells them that the purpose of the project is to

These guys are doing really well sharing the work load

Super group dynamic here and they  took turns being in charge

A closer look at the actual project

work together and that I will be monitoring cooperation.  I am looking for them to gain communication skills and work things out amongst themselves.  I never intervene other than to tell them to go back to the group and work it out together.

5th grade Bobble Heads

I was so pleased with the results of 5th grade clay bobble heads this year.  They were very creative with their various approaches to the assignments.  Here are a few photos and videos.

Student's wolf

Student's Elephant

Student's monkey with a banana

Puppy by student.  I was impressed by how she placed the
front feet on the bobble and the back feet on the base.

Love Birds 2003

1st grade student work

 This original work by James Rizzi was the inspiration for the following works by 1st grade students the past couple of weeks.  They had been exploring the many works by Rizzi and had already create smiling buildings in a Rizzi type city.  Students followed a directed draw to create the birds and then embellished their work based on "Love Birds.  They were completed with watercolor.  I am so in love with these sweet little paintings and the endearing way students created their interpretations.

student work

student work

student work

student work