I've become intrigued with how our brain remembers color. There's lots of neurological research about how our brain processes color, but not much about how we remember it. This was the leaping off point for the current project with the grade 5's called Sky Jars. We created a jar of color that evoked a memory of the color of the sky from a favorite memory. Students were challenged with remembering and then recreating that color.

First we did a thinking routine about our summer to visualize the memory, the sky, and its color. then, using food coloring, we mixed primary colors into jars. Finally, we labelled each jar with information about the memory (place, time, and memory). The best part was naming the color; Students were challenged to come up with names that evoked the memory or place without naming the color. We ended up with Buckingham Sky, Rocky Mountain Haze, and Trouble Brewing.

After installing the artwork in the atrium, students completed a "Looking Ten-times-Two" thinking routine. This allowed them to reflect on their creating process, as well as how their memories came to form part of a larger artwork. For the past two weeks its been great to watch people walk by, stop, and read the memories.

One of the goals for each grade is to create a self-portrait. This portrait will serve as a record of the student as they advance through school.

This year, in Grade 5, we are looking at patterns and surface design. We took inspiration from zen tangles, and looked at how these might be used to cover surfaces. Students then created their own repeating patterns based on their personality, and personal history. Students then struck a pose and we photographed it. Then, using the patterns they designed, students filled in the form of their hair and the background. We were working large, so these works took several lessons to complete. It was a good lesson for the students to learn about the importance of patience and time management. Such a fun project to do, and some really interesting results.

Some of the more successful designs were ones where the students design followed the folds of clothing and the form of their body. In future iterations, I think we'll look at this in more detail; more front-loading of different portraits would support this more.