2nd grade field trip to the Snite:Part 2

This was the 2nd grade's 3rd field trip with this program. The kids were very excited to go back to the museum! The only problem is that with all the construction going on around the ND stadium, the bus driver refused to listen to the teacher and I and dropped us just under a half mile away from our destination. Normally this would not be a big deal, but with almost 50 kids, 4 adults, 25mph winds, and carrying boxes with everyone's lunches, it was a bit of a worrisome start to the day. Once we got into the museum, the kids were very excited and they were ready for us.

We split into 2 groups again, and this time we studied landscapes. They learned about the foreground, middle ground, and background. They looked at the painting and tried to use their senses to describe what was happening in the painting.

One boy doing his best "museum pose"

We then headed outside for lunch. What a crazy time! The slightly chilly temps, and high winds caused a number of screams, food blowing, and at one point what sounded like a revolt happening (kids chanting "summer, summer")

After lunch we headed back in, and down to a theater where we studied 2 different types of landscapes and the kids wrote imaginary postcards to someone telling them about the location.  Once we were done with that fun activity, the kids headed into the workroom. Here they were given print outs (done a certain way) with objects in 3 different sizes, and a landscape. They were to put packing tape over the image, burnish it with the handle of the scissors, then cut it out leaving space around it. We then dropped it in a bowl of water, let it sit for a few minutes, then gently rub the paper off the back of the tape. This keeps the image on the tape, and makes it into a homemade sticker!

And this past Saturday, the Snite had a family day for every student that participated in this year long program. We got to head in, have the student show us around, watch a movie of all the art work done from all the schools, eat cookies and punch, and then the kids got to decorate a sketch book of their own. It was a wonderful day all around!

2nd grade field trip to the Snite

This year at school, the 2nd grade classes got to participate in a wonderful program! They get to take field trips to the Snite Museum of Art at Notre Dame University! We took our first trip last week. The kids were so very excited to ride a bus all the way there.

The museum had put together a video for the kids to watch the day before the trip, and so the kids knew that this sculpture was called The Griffin and were super excited to be standing in front of it. We also took a class photo in front of the museum where most of the kids were giving us their best museum pose.

Our wonderful guide showed us 5 different pieces of art, we got to discuss them, and learn more about the pieces themselves and the artists that created them.

After checking out the art work, we had a fun picnic lunch outside, and let the kids run out some of that energy. We then headed into the workshop to create our own art work. The kids got to make their own version of the art we studied. They were amazed to use watercolor pencils and paint the water on them.

Then back upstairs to begin the writing portion of our trip. Each student got to pick out one of their favorite moments of the day coming up with the beginning, middle, and end of what will become their story of the day.

I LOVED going with them and was so very thankful to be allowed to come along.

D's 1st grade zoo field trip

Every year the 1st grade class gets to go on a fall field trip to our local zoo. D was really bummed last year when she was in kindergarten that she couldn't go with big brother. I reminded her that she would get to go this year with her own friends. So the time came for the permission slips to come home for this year's trip and she insisted that I had to go with, like I wouldn't anyway. It turned out to be the perfect day for the trip. In October, you never really know what the weather will bring here in Northern Indiana. Last year for their trip to the pumpkin patch it was rainy, muddy, and bitter cold. As you can see from the pictures, some of the kids were wearing shorts!! Summer just didn't want to give up this year. D's teacher has not lived in this area for years now, and is finally back. Well she was unfamiliar with the changes to the zoo, so D, another mom, and I helped her out with our knowledge of the zoo. We have been here so many times over the years that we really have learned things that most people have not heard before. 

We started out by meeting up with the classes, and finding our children and their partner. Each buddy gets a clipboard, highlighter, and a sheet with different types of animals. They are to color in a square every time they see an animal.

Trying to get the class together for a picture.

Take number 2! Like a friend has said, "It's like herding cats!"

After the walk around the zoo, everyone heads to a large picnic shelter for a picnic lunch. After lunch, all the kids head over to a fenced in playground area. They were super lucky too, because when they got back to school they had the privilege of going to a bounce house party in the gym as a reward for the fundraising sale we had this year.