hello dolly, well, hello dolly: dolls as unit of study a school-wide, integrated,

Hello Dolly, Well, Hello Hello Dolly, Well, Hello Dolly: Dolls as Unit of Dolly: Dolls as Unit of

StudyStudyA School-wide, Integrated,

World-view of the DollPresented at the

National Art Education Association Convention

March 15, 2006 (6:00-6:50)East Suite, 4th Floor

Bob ReekerLincoln Public Schools

Lincoln, NebraskaEmail: [email protected]

http://ulhomepage.lps.org/breeker/web/index.html

Lincoln, Nebraska225,000+ population

Home to the University of Nebraska- 2006 National Volleyball Champions!

Located in the Southeast corner of the state

Second largest city in the state - Omaha is the largest

Capitol of Nebraska http://www.map-of-usa.co.uk/images/nebraska.gif

Lincoln Public Schools

Total students: 32,505

LPS employees: 7,170—2,803 teachers

Students attend: 36 elementary schools, 11 middle schools, 6 high schools, 1 alternative high school; 3 high school focus programs—Science Focus Program (Zoo School), Arts and Humanities Focus Program, and the Technology Focus Program

Art Specialists, full & part-time, in all elementary schools but 4

Supportive District Art Consultant - Nancy Childs

Collaborative Colleagues - 15 presentations at this National Conference

My Career HistoryYear One (1990) - Art on a Cart :)

Two years as an administrator

In the last 5 years, in 5 different buildings

2004-05 Nebraska Art Educator of the Year

Newly-elected NAEA Elementary Division Director-Elect

I am in my 3rd year teaching at Eastridge Elementary as a .5 Art and .5 Integrated Technology Specialist - 215 students - ECSE - Grade 5. I see all students twice a week.

Why dolls?Why dolls?Dolls have a universal appeal. From Native American Cornhusk and Kachina dolls to Guatemalan Worry dolls to Russian Nesting dolls as well as modern day action figures to delicate, finely-dressed porcelain dolls, not to mention, historicaland today’s paper dolls to Barbie and Raggedy Ann,the doll manifests itself in some fashion in nearlyevery culture in the world.

Why dolls?Why dolls?

Children bond with dolls in a special manner. Whether used as comfort or play or as a tool for imitating life,dolls perform an important roll in the personal andsocial growth for children.

I share with my students that as a four-year old, Ideveloped a need for a baby doll. My family purchaseda baby doll for me. This need was the result of the latest cousin born into our family.

I was imitating life.

Why dolls?Why dolls?My inspiration for an all-school doll unit came from apresentation at the 2005 National Art Education Convention in Boston. A teacher had based her entire Art curriculum on tea, tea pots, and tea cups. I loved the idea, however, I dislike the taste of tea. And I did not want to focus an entire year’s curriculum on one area, so…

I started thought showering about concepts/ideas/items Universal to all people, thus…

DOLLS!

Why dolls?Why dolls?

In addition, I had just found out I was going to be a new Daddy…adopting a baby from Guatemala. I had collectedmany Guatemalan artifacts, including the famous worrydolls.

How did I start?How did I start?

I just started collecting images and artifacts.

Once you get the word out to your family and friends,colleagues, and students/families you are looking for dolls, you are good to go…

Web images, books, actual doll artifacts, postcards, items thestudents brought in…images just poured to me!

Anything dealing with dolls, I nabbed!

Then…Then…

I started each unit with eachI started each unit with eachclass explaining this wasclass explaining this wasa school-wide doll unit…toa school-wide doll unit…towatch for each others’ watch for each others’ images or to talk withimages or to talk withstudents other than in yourstudents other than in yourgrade about dolls.grade about dolls.

Kindergarten - Paper Doll MasksKindergarten - Paper Doll MasksIn this age of technology, kids don’t know paper dolls..

We started with defining a paper doll and looking at manyimages...actual paper dolls as well as images off the net.

Each child received a paper plate with pre-cut eye holes. Abase skin color was added first.

Then, using oil pastels, basic details were added.

Art problem: Make a self-portrait mask as if you are a doll.

Kindergarten - Paper Doll MasksKindergarten - Paper Doll Masks

Prior to coming in the next class period, I attach elastic forwearing the mask and display the masks.

To embellish the mask, students use Elmer’s glue and texture items in baskets on their tables. I encourage them touse at least 3 different types of textures.

Finally, we wrap up textures, share the masks, and thengo on a Mask Parade through the office. Masks go home then.

Kindergarten - Paper Doll MasksKindergarten - Paper Doll Masks

1st Grade - Kachina-inspired Dolls1st Grade - Kachina-inspired DollsWith any cultural study, I think it is important that childrenrealize that since their heritage is probably not directly connected to the culture, we are only creating images that are inspired by theculture.

I’ve made Kachina-inspired dolls with first graders in both ceramic clay and paper mache’.

We start the unit looking at Kachina images and viewing a Kachina Powerpoint.

Art Problem:Create a doll inspired by the Native Americantradition of Kachina Dolls.

Kachina-inspired

Dolls

Kachina Dolls were created byNative Americans for several reasons:

1. As good luck charms

2. As toys for children

3. As works of art

We will make Kachina-inspired dolls.We start with a sketch.

Next, we build our form.

Next, we paper mache’ the form.

Next, we paint our form one solid color.

Next, we paint the details.

Finally, we glue on texture itemsfor embellishment.

Our final results are wonderfulcreations of art called Kachina-inspired dolls.

Tech Connect…Tech Connect…

Students are introduced to PhotoshopElements using a Kachinaimage. Using the paint

bucket tool and filters, studentsalter the photograph tocreate a new image.

2nd Grade - Russian Nesting Dolls2nd Grade - Russian Nesting Dolls

Also called Matryoshka Dolls, these dolls that diminish in size and fit into one another, are a favorite of kids!

Just as with first grade, we spend time looking and learningabout these dolls by looking at images and a Powerpoint.

Russian Matryoshka Nesting Dolls

Doll Unit

www.babooshkashop.co.uk

What is a Russian Matryoshka Nesting

Doll? "Matryoshka" are Russian wooden dolls with smaller dolls stacked within the bigger ones.

Nesting dolls are the best known and most popular of all Russian souvenirs.

Matryoshka means “a little Matryona,” the Russian name that means “mother.”

There are many kinds of Matryoshka dolls coming from different areas in Russia.

"Matryoshka" are Russian wooden dolls with smaller dolls stacked within the bigger ones.

Nesting dolls are the best known and most popular of all Russian souvenirs.

Matryoshka means “a little Matryona,” the Russian name that means “mother.”

There are many kinds of Matryoshka dolls coming from different areas in Russia.

www.waytorussia.netwww.natashascafe.com/html/doll.html

www.russianlegacy.com

HistoryHistory The first Russian Matryoshka was

made in 1890 by two men. It contained 8 pieces: a girl

with a black rooster was followed by a boy and then by a girl again and so on. All figurines were different from each other, the last one was a figurine of a baby wrapped in diaper.

Usually the apron was considered the most important part and showed the main design element

Since their invention Matryoshka dolls have become an important symbol of Russian Culture.

The first Russian Matryoshka was made in 1890 by two men.

It contained 8 pieces: a girl with a black rooster was followed by a boy and then by a girl again and so on. All figurines were different from each other, the last one was a figurine of a baby wrapped in diaper.

Usually the apron was considered the most important part and showed the main design element

Since their invention Matryoshka dolls have become an important symbol of Russian Culture.

www.russianlegacy.com/nestingdolls.htm#history

Making MatryoshkasMaking Matryoshkas

First, wood is carefully selected from lime, birch, alder and aspen trees.

First, wood is carefully selected from lime, birch, alder and aspen trees.

www.worth1000.com

Making Matryoshkas

Making Matryoshkas

Second Matryoshkas are carefully carved out of wood using a special tool called a lathe.

Second Matryoshkas are carefully carved out of wood using a special tool called a lathe.

www.ushanka.com/hm/nd/plain/0_5_634.jpg

Matryoshkas are hand painted withbrushes, usually by women artists.

Matryoshkas are hand painted withbrushes, usually by women artists.

www.angelfire.com/art2/petrikovka/images/Paintone.jpg

Making MatryoshkasMaking Matryoshkas

After the matryoshkas are painted varnish is applied to finish the doll.

After the matryoshkas are painted varnish is applied to finish the doll.

www.angelfire.com/.../images/Paintone.jpg

www.counton.org

Variations of Matryoshka Dolls


Matryoshkas can be painted many different ways.

Matryoshkas can be painted many different ways.

www.k.d.atkinson.btinternet.co.uk





http://www.russianlegacy.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=35_21_90



www.russianlegacy.com www.tolstoys.com

www.tolstoys.com



www.dtgifts.com/snowman-doll05.jpg

2nd Grade - Russian Nesting Dolls2nd Grade - Russian Nesting DollsPrior to the unit, I put out the call to all 2nd grade studentfamilies to borrow these dolls and got a great response. We borrowed 10 different sets of nesting dolls.

Dolls were set up around the room with strict orders for no one to touch…and they didn’t! The art problem: Students were required to draw at least5 dolls but could draw more. Drawings were finished in coloredpencil and then cut out and mounted on construction paper.

2nd Grade - Russian Nesting Dolls2nd Grade - Russian Nesting Dolls

Tech Connect…Tech Connect…The top image is a pencil color drawing done by hand in the art room. Note thetwo colors of paper to represent a tableand a wall.

The second image was done in Kid Pix.Students were given a template, addeddrawn details, and then a paint bucketwas utilized for adding color.

The final image is a similar exerciseto the first grade Kachina imagesdone in Photoshop Elements.

3rd Grade - Doll Synthesized Portraits3rd Grade - Doll Synthesized Portraits

“What if you were a doll? What would you look like?”

This is the question I posed my third graders at the start ofthis unit.

Synthesis was defined and examples shown from the net.

Then I came up with three dolls that American Pop Culturehas made popular and famous…

Any ideas of which three I chose?

Doll/Human Synthesis

Raggedy Ann & Andy Cabbage Patch Kids

Barbie & KenDraw a doll on this side. Onthe back, draw a self-portrait.

3rd Grade - 3rd Grade - Doll Doll Synthesized Synthesized PortraitsPortraits

3rd Grade - Doll Synthesized Portraits3rd Grade - Doll Synthesized Portraits

Once they practiced a doll and self-portrait (mirrors were madeavailable for observation of faces), we talked about thespecial features of each. Those features would make up a dollthat looked like them! We had discussed and practiced, prior to this activity, the drawing of a face in proportion.

Images were drawn in pencil, colored with crayon, cut out, and mounted on construction paper.

The art problem: Draw a doll image that synthesizes yourfeatures with those features of a doll of your choice.


I feel the most fun part of this unit was when we synthesized thefaces of their teachers with dolls. Using Photoshop Elements,the face of a teacher and a face of a doll were layered. Then, students used the erase tool to expose parts of the face on the bottomlayer. Doll images used were Barbie and Raggedy Ann.Both teachers were VERY GOOD sports about this activity!Images were printed in black and white and then hand-coloredwith colored pencil.

Both the hand-drawn image and computer-generated imagewere displayed together.

4th Grade - Action Figures4th Grade - Action Figures

Over the last few years, there has been a resurgence ofsuper hero icons and images, with X-men, Spiderman, andthe new Superman. With those icons, come dolls calledaction figures.

The unit was started by practicing the proportions of thehuman body and comparing those to super heroes. Students were taught to measure proportions, then drawa basic stick figure to capture the pose, and then finally, adddetails.Images were given to students from the net as inspiration toreplicate. Art problem: Capture the image of the action figure in drawing.In the future, I hope to find actual action figures to draw as inspiration.

4th Grade - 4th Grade - Action FiguresAction Figures

4th Grade - Action Figures4th Grade - Action Figures


Using a program called Comic Life,students created their own comic bookpages using images found on the net.Titles, thought/speaking bubbles, andcaptions were used to tell the stories.Images were printed and displayed with the drawings done in art.

5th Grade - Landscape Postcards5th Grade - Landscape Postcards

Just like paper dolls, the postcard has become somewhatobsolete. So, it was important for my 5th graders to learnabout postcards, their history, and rich imagery.

We started with research in the computer lab on the postcardand looked at a variety of cards.

Also in the lab, I asked them to look for landscape imagesfrom one of three countries: Guatemala, Russia, and EarlyAmerica. These were to be used in making our postcards.The landscapes were printed in black/white and taken backto the art room.

5th Grade -5th Grade -Landscape Landscape PostcardsPostcards

Practice landscapes weredrawn to learn perspective.

5th Grade -5th Grade -Landscape Landscape PostcardsPostcards

A postcard-sized pieceof posterboard was givento each student.

Art Problem: draw a landscapepostcard depicting a country’s landscape and include an imageof the doll from that country.

Images were finished in coloredpencil.


Students were to write a message on the reverse, adding an address

and stamp.

5th Grade - 5th Grade - Landscape Landscape PostcardsPostcards

Time for Questions, Answers, and Sharing…

Maskmania: From Paper Plates

To Plaster Gauze

Saturday, March 17, 2006 (11:00-11:50)

Concourse A, Concourse Level

Thank you for coming today. Thank you for coming today. My hope is that you take My hope is that you take

awayawaythings you can use right things you can use right

awayawayin your classroom when you in your classroom when you

return.return.

http://ulhomepage.lps.org/breeker/web/index.html

Email: [email protected]

hello dolly, well, hello dolly: dolls as unit of study a school-wide, integrated,

Documents

kachina dolls

guatemalan worry dolls

russian nesting dolls

dressed porcelain dolls

elementary schools

nebraska art educator

entire art curriculum

high schools