Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program

Tag: Utah

  • Utah Birds and Ecosystems

    This Fall, 2019 the Artsbridge Honors course at Weber State University will design and co-create a new faux-stained glass installation called Utah Birds & Ecosystems. This is a course designed for Weber State University students to work closely with professors and BTSALP Visual Arts Specialist, Brent Rhodes, and his 4th graders at James Madison Elementary. Through this collaboration students design and build a hanging installation that depicts the birds and ecosystems found in Utah. This aligns with the 4th grade Utah State Science Standards. All of the Weber State students and 4th Graders will visit the Ogden Nature Center to gather field research on Utah’s birds and ecosystems. They will work closely with local artists to inform and develop their artistic process. Throughout the semester, students will also engage in pen-pal writing prompts, strengthen their knowledge in the elements of art and explore a variety of art techniques.

    This display will be permanently hung at James Madison Elementary School and is facilitated by Tamara Goldbogen, Erinne Roundy, and Brent Rhodes. This project is a partnership between the Weber State University Arts Learning Collaborative, the Ogden Nature Center, and the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program.

    Mark your calendar: The semester and course will culminate in an unveiling of the Utah Birds & Ecosystems faux-stained glass installation and a short documentary on the creative process on Wednesday, December 11, 2019 from 5:00-6:30pm at James Madison Elementary School in Ogden Utah. This event is open to the public and all are welcome to celebrate the hard work and success of both students and faculty.

  • Mosaic Murals at Sprucewood Elementary

    Jonathan Hale, BTSALP Visual Art Specialist at Sprucewood Elementary School (Canyons School District,) worked with each grade level to create a colorful mural. Each Mosaic Mural is a compilation of concepts taught at each grade level. Students worked to develop images in clay and then used recycled and donated items to complete the picture. Students reviewed and explored grade level concepts while creating and constructing these mosaic murals.

    1st Grade Mosaic Mural

    Connections to Grade Level Learning: The main focus of the 1st grade mural is on changes that occur; the seasons change bringing different kinds of weather. In spring the caterpillar changes into a butterfly, plants and flowers grow from seeds. In fall the tree leaves change color and fall to the ground.

    The flowers and the snowflakes were constructed using composite shapes. The students explored their knowledge of community making bees, complete with the queen bee and worker bees. The mural emphasizes colors as a way to show temperature and the seasons.

    2nd Grade Mosaic Mural

    Connections to Grade Level Learning: The main focus of the 2nd grade mural is on the local, state and national symbols. Students created their homes, neighborhoods, and communities including their very own Sprucewood Elementary School, stores and the post office. Students then represented state symbols like the Utah State flag, Utah’s Dinosaur Monument and Arches National Park. At the national level students helped to make the United States flag and the Statue of Liberty. In addition to the local, state and national symbols, students created phases of the moon with shapes divided into equal parts.

    3rd Grade Mosaic Mural

    Connections to Grade Level Learning: The main focus of this mural is the interconnection of the sun and earth and the rotation of the moon. The mural also includes elements of space with constellations, satellites, spaceships, and the occasional math problem. The constellations were made using a grid with students calculating the area and perimeter of their creations.

    4th Grade Mosaic Mural

    Connections to Grade Level Learning: The mural focuses on the state of Utah. This mural highlights the many rock formations and types of Utah land forms, how they are formed and the effects of erosion. It also features fossils, Petroglyphs and and the people who told their stories through them. The mural also showcases the meeting of the two railroads at Promontory Point in 1869, Utah counties and even an Allosaurus. The water cycle is featured along with mathematical concepts of symmetry, angles and rays.

    5th Grade Mosaic Mural

    Connections to Grade Level Learning: The main theme of this mural is the formation of the United States of America. Each mural has a central image and four quadrants that highlight the explorers, patriots, inventors and Yankees that helped shape the American we know and love.

  • Update: Birds, Birds, Birds

    Just bringing you an update from one of our BTSALP long term projects! This project is “in the works” so keep checking back to see the progress.

    Laurie Shea, BTSALP Visual Art specialist, is working on a large scale, permanent installation for the open foyer at Beacon Heights Elementary in Salt Lake City.  She started with the sixth grade and the paper mache Birds of Prey.  She is now working with the lower grades. Each grade level is creating a different type of bird that will be hanging as part of the installation.  

    Kindergarten students used Styrofoam balls, pom poms, beads, feathers and glue (Of course they did, it’s SO Kindergarten!) to make whimsical birds that will hang in groups. 

    First graders used air dry clay and feather to create hummingbirds for the installation. 

    Second graders are constructing Common Yard Birds of Utah. They had 6 choices: Magpie, Cardinal, Blue Jay, Stellar Jay, Red-headed Woodpecker or a Western Tanger. These are made with thin craft foam and painted details. When they are assembled they have a 3D appearance. Look closely, that’s Laurie holding an assembled Cardinal.  

    Third grade is also working on Common Yard Birds but their projects are smaller Common Yard Birds such as Finches, Blue Birds and Chickadees.  

    Wild, Wacky, whimsical Wetland Birds are the fourth grade’s contribution.  The birds start with empty water bottles and details and paint are added as the birds develop.  Laurie again, on the left, measuring wing construction from a section of a cardboard box that will be added to the painted body. 

    Sixth grade Bird of Prey just hanging around waiting for his wings!  The fifth grade’s Robot-Doodle-Bot Quails are still in the “incubation stage.” Stay tuned! 

  • Utah Birds of Prey

    Laurie Shea, BTSALP Visual Art Specialist at Beacon Heights Elementary started the school year off with a fun, informative project on Utah Birds of Prey. She had the sixth grade students research different birds of prey. They drew the birds highlighting the different shapes found on the birds.  Then it was time to blow up the balloons and construct the birds using newspaper and paper mache. 

    Great collaboration between preservice teachers, Dayna Morris and Christy Edgel from the Integrated Curriculum class at the University of Utah, BTSALP and Beacon Heights. Extra hands ALWAYS come in handy! 

    Coming Soon: The finished Birds of Prey

  • Welcome Back to School!

    The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program has expanded! Meet some of our specialists as they go “Back to School” for 2017-2018. Enjoy learning more about our program and these amazing and talented educators.  Click here to read all about it!

  • Spotlight: Visual Art Specialist Cassie Walker

    You’re in for a visual treat as you read through this month’s BTSALP newsletter. Cassie Walker and her students at Lone Peak Elementary take integrated art to a whole new level. Feast your eyes right here.

  • Legislative Luncheon

    On Wednesday, February 3, 2016 the annual Legislative luncheon for Utah state legislators and their spouses, was held at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.  Art and Musical Theatre was provided by students from BTSALP schools throughout the state. Click here to read more about this wonderful afternoon and to download free “Leap Year” music and lesson plans.

  • UMFA Touch Tour

    BTSALP specialists, classroom teachers and university partners joined the Utah Museum of Fine Arts educators for a 2-hr Professional Development that highlighted visual literacy and object based learning as great teaching tools for students of all abilities. Learn more about it in our latest newsletter.