Middle Years Alternative
Student Teacher: Alexis Cleary
Cooperating Teacher: Chrissy Seonia
Lesson #1: Texture Collage
Students learned about the art element texture, and experimented with creating texture rubbings from surfaces around their house and the outdoors. After the students collected their rubbings, they cut them out into a variety of shapes. The students took their cut-outs and put them together into a collage. The 8th grade students were also tasked with incorporating a drawing element that represented either invented, or abstract texture.
Elyse Turner, 6th Grade, David Butler, 7th Grade, Arianna Taing, 7th Grade, Mohammad Alif, 7th Grade, Jannatul Naeema, 6th Grade, Z’Nyalove Johnson, 7th Grade
Lesson #2: Google Drawing Landscape
This selection of artworks is from a lesson plan based on the element of art space. The students learned about space and composition before getting practice using Google Drawing. The students were asked to create a landscape by layering basic shapes. A few students challenged themselves with a landscape that uses one-point perspective.
Reasmy Sam, 5th Grade, Jonah Walden, 5th Grade, Kayden Kelly, 5th Grade, Jasmin Akther, 5th Grade, Jonah Walden, 5th Grade, Jasmin Akther, 5th Grade
Lesson #3: The Hill We Climb
This lesson was taught by my co-op, Chrissy Seonia. She was inspired by the poem, “The Hill We Climb” recited by Amanda Gorman at President Biden’s inauguration. Chrissy had the students listen to the poem with the intention of choosing a word or phrase that inspired them. The students then created illustrations to represent their chosen word or phrase. For this lesson, the students looked closely at illustrator Kadir Nelson’s work for inspiration, and discussed his use of symbolism and imagery.
Gloria Evans, 8th Grade, Aaliya Shoatz, 8th Grade, Saidatul Zannat, 8th Grade, Muhammad Al-Sulaimani, 8th Grade, Tanbir Onik, 8th Grade, Rafsyn Begum, 8th Grade, Adil Kabir, 7th Grade
Lesson #4: Found Object Mobile
How can artists create in a resourceful way? By using non-traditional art materials! The students looked at sculptor Alexander Calder’s artwork for inspiration, and learned how to construct a mobile sculpture. The students were asked to create a mobile using found objects.
Arafat Hossain (8th Grade)
Shuang Qiu (8th Grade)
Alexis Cleary
TYL ‘21, Art Education
My name is Alexis Cleary, and I am an Art Educator from Delaware County, PA. While growing up I spent a lot of time in and around Philadelphia, and was drawn to the arts community in the city. I found a passion for the arts through summer programs in the city, and was inspired by my art teachers to pursue a career in education. In my teaching practice, I strive to create a safe space in which all students can feel comfortable to create in. I love introducing students to nontraditional materials, and encouraging experimentation and resourceful art making. Especially in the virtual setting, I have found it important to give students the opportunity to explore new mediums, such as digital & found object art. I am so proud of the art work that the students have created while I have been student teaching!
Alexis Cleary’s visual note