Houses for Haiti- DCES faculty and their children come together for a great cause

Houses for Haiti is a non-profit organization dedicated to building houses for homeless families living on the streets of Cite Soleil, the poorest slum in the Western Hemisphere. With no jobs, education or public assistance, many families have no hope for ever living in a concrete dwelling. We believe that every person deserves to live in a safe environment, free from disease and filth that is ever present on the streets of Haiti. Please check out their website: Housesforhaiti.org

Duncan Creek faculty and their children donated their time after school to make house pins for this organization. Pins were made and sold in the front office and all funds were donated to help the people of Haiti. See just how great our teachers and staff are when working together!!!

3rd grade - Gyotaku fish printing

Japanese fishermen would record their catch by using this printing method. Before reading and writing was learned and used by everyone, visual means of record keeping of fish species and size would be recorded this way. No one could embellish the size of their catch by this method! Students were able to print with rubber fish AND a real fish ~ yuck ~ and even though many opted to print with the rubber fish, all wanted to see and feel the real one!

1st grades - have a heart

Pinch pots were the items being made in this beginning clay lesson. Our students created pinch pots by using lizella clay and pinching and forming the pot shape in their hands. Students turned these into heart shapes and glazed them as gifts for Valentine's day.

2nd grade - Kokeshi Dolls

These students studied a Japanese form of dollmaking - Kokeshi Dolls! Kokeshi dolls are carved from wood and were made as a less expensive way of having dolls for the children, as opposed to the more expensive porcelain dolls. Our students worked in recycled materials and paper mache. They used left over fabric scraps and ribbon scraps to create uniquely individual dolls - the boys even enjoyed this! As the students finished up their dolls, they made books and wrote stories to go along with their own kokeshi dolls. Take a look and see their wonderful characters!

Kindergarten - Filet of sole, anyone?

Texture is what the K students are currently working on. They are using homemade crayons that I love to make and they are rubbing the bottom of their shoe!! This unique texture will represent the fish they are making in their mixed media composition. Be on the look out for the finished collage paintings.

5th grade - marbelized paper

Students had a blast making marbelized paper! The students used shaving cream for this particular method of marbelizing paper. Using the shaving cream and paint students were amazed at the creative designs that appeared on the paper in this printing lesson. The students will use their paper as a cover to the book they will make in the bookmaking unit they are working towards. Next step is to line their covers, make their signatures, and bind their books....be on the look out for the next few lessons that will encompass this unit!

1st graders - Snowman collage

1st grade students are working on their cutting skills. They watched the movie, The Snowman, and are now creating their own snowman scenes. Students traced and cut and colored their compositions. Cutting is a fine motor skill that at this age can never be practiced enough. Background, foreground, and middle ground was also reviewed during this lesson. Take a look at these phenomenal creations in progress!!