Artist Trading Cards

It has been stated before that, when we are able to share what we have learned it helps to develop and improve our understanding. The opportunity to share our artwork has arisen through an international project called "Artist Trading Card Swap".

The idea of  Artist Trading Cards was started in 1997 in Switzerland as a Project for Artists to share their work with one another. The card is about the same size as a regular Trading Card (63mm x 89mm). The artwork can be of any subject or medium. On the back, there needs to include details about the painting, the artist and where it comes from. 

An opportunity arose to participate in a school version through a group of Art teachers. Mini Matisse, otherwise known as Mrs Hahn, has given some of her time to organise this project.  More details of the project can be seen at her website: Mini Matisse.

To first create our cards I gave the students the following criteria that they had to make each of their cards for:

• One had to monochromatic
• As many different lines as possible
• use only primary colours
• Use a letter in the design.
• featured a cow
• own choice
• use perspective

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The next group of  cards that we created, needed to include a robot in one of the designs. We also used the following template so that all of our cards were labelled. 

Artist trading cards from Kate Todd

We are really looking forward to sending them to the United States soon, so that we can exchange our Trading Cards. It will be exciting to see where the cards all come from and the many different artworks that have been created. 

What have you learned through creating Artist Trading Cards? What have you enjoyed the most about the project so far? 

Milky Way

Milky way from Kate Todd

We have finished painting our cow! Doesn't she look beautiful? 

The experience of designing and painting Moo-juice has been profitable. It has helped to build community within our classroom and our school. We have developed an understanding of the design process from the initial design and then seeing through to the completion of painting her. 
The other benefits of having our Picasso cow is the focus that it has brought about the Dairy Industry and the importance it plays. Dairy Farming has a rich history in our local area. It provides many jobs and there are many health benefits for incorporating dairy into our diets. 
We have learnt that milk needs to be carefully transported so that it arrives uncontaminated at its destination. 
Stage 3 shared our completion with Kindergarten, who enjoyed coming and patting our cow. We look forward to seeing the other cows at the Presentation Day

Properly Packaged

There are many aspects to the Dairy Industry. For dairy product to arrive on our tables, involves a lengthy process, starting with life on a dairy farm. The milk that a cow has produced must be carefully stored so that its quality is maintained and contaminant-free.

This week the students have been set a STEM-ed challenge of creating a package that can hold 500 ml of  milk. They are to think as an engineer would to solve the problem of creating a waterproof container that can transport milk. The closest design to the 500 ml capacity will gain extra points. The students only have the following items to use for the challenge. 

The students have had to draw their ideas first before constructing their designs, discussing the different options, as part of the challenge is that they will not receive any replacements if the items fail in some way. They will need to modify their design. Often projects in life will mean working with the resources that we have, rather than an unlimited budget. 

The students will complete their designs and then will reflect on them as a group. They need to be able to explain how their design achieves the brief. The design that achieves the highest score will receive a prize. 

It will be interesting to see the designs that the students come up with and to see how they go about solving the challenge. Stay tuned!

We have a Cow!

Don't worry it isn't real!

The life-size fibre-glass cow comes from Dairy Australia. Stage 3 (as well as anyone else who we can talk into helping) will be working creating designs for our cow, while also learning about how the Dairy Industry in Australia and the importance of a healthy diet. 

Our cow was unwrapped today with much enthusiasm from the Year 6 students. It has also had a lot of interest from many, who have been walking by. 

Our cow is on the search for a name. We have had some suggestions of Mary von Dairy, Moo Moo, Moodoosa, Cowella and Mrs Einstein von Brainstorm, just to name a few!

Any suggestions that you may have to name our cow, will be gratefully received! Please complete the Google Form below to help us make our selection.

What should the name of our cow be? Why?