Welcome  to 

Mrs. Gorruso's  Art  Class

Thank you so much for visiting my classroom website.  Here you will find all things art for Jennings & Stratfield Elementary Schools.  Click on any photograph to learn more about that subject or navigate by clicking on the tabs at the top of the page.  Feel free to email me anytime.  Enjoy!   

Email:  agorruso@fairfieldschools.org

What's Going on in the Art Room?

Snow Globe

The Jennings snow globe mural was back again this year, but this time bigger and better!  (The previous one was accidentally thrown away, so I spent 9- labor-of-love hours repainting it.)  Students had the opportunity to take pictures of themselves inside the snow globe with their friends and family from 12/16 - 12/20.  And a special thank you goes out to Julianna T., Theo R., and Mr. Nick for helping hang and install it this year.  


The snow globe will travel to Stratfield after the New Year for photo opportunities to excite the students for the literacy program.  Be on the look-out Stratfield!

5th Grade Holiday Poppy Community Service Project

(organized by Jessica Roffe)

The Jennings 5th grade class participated in a community service project making paper poppy flowers for the Madaras Home for Women Vertarans in Bridgeport, CT.  During their holiday party, students watched a DIY poppy flower video I made for them which was posted in my art google classroom.  In the end, over 55 flowers were bundled and delivered to the women's home with along with positive messages written on them.   Great job kids!

Iris (KB) painting her ROY G. BIV monster

Kaye (KP) decorating her pinch pot with pottery tools

Kindergarten

Rainbow Line Monsters

Kindergarteners just finished up their Rainbow Line Monsters.  This lesson introduced using oil pastels, tempera paint cakes, scissors, glue, and a variety of collage techniques.  Students drew a variety of lines with oil pastels, selected and applied rainbow colors in the correct rainbow order, created a painting using a variety of colors, and continued to build off of their collage knowledge by using scissor safety and adhering materials appropriately.    Click here to see pictures.


Questions to ask the kindergarteners:

1)  Ask students to draw a variety of lines.

2)  Did you like using oil pastels?  Why or why not?

3)  What is the acronym to help remember the rainbow color order?

4)  Did you use a glue sponge or a glue stick to attach your monster face?  Why did you choose this?

5)  Was this project easy or hard for you?  Why do you think so?







Pinch Pots

The pinch pot lesson is a right of passage when it comes to kindergarten art!  To begin their pinch pot, students learned where clay comes from and why it is so different and special compared to other clays (i.e. play dough, model magic, etc.)  They used their “scooping hands” to wedge the clay in a ball, and then used their “poking thumb” and “pinching fingers” to form their pinch pot walls.  Next, they scratched decorations into the sides of their pinch pot using a variety of pottery tools.  Once their projects dry for several weeks, they will paint them with their favorite color glaze.  I will also give students a choice whether or not to leave a colored glass bead on the bottom of their pinch pot to create a melted glass effect.  If we have time, I will let students look inside the kiln and show they around the kiln room.    


Questions to ask the kindergarteners:

1)  Where does EARTHEN CLAY come from?  What is so special about it?  

2) Ask students to recall the steps it took to shape their pinch pot.

3)  Why did you GLAZE your pinch pot this color?  What is GLAZE?

4)  What was the hardest part of this project?  What was the easiest part?

First Grade

Thiebaud Cupcake

First graders finished up creating a large cupcake inspired by Pop artist Wayne Thiebaud.  To begin the lesson, students learned how to identify “AB” and “ABC” patterns within a work of art.  Then they watched this entertaining scratch garden video and painted their favorite line patterns on a piece of construction paper with tempera paint.  Then students ripped up paper to create textured frosting and then drew and collaged their favorite toppings for their cupcake. 


Questions to ask the first graders:

1)  What does the word pattern mean?

2)  Ask students to make a pattern using shapes, lines, objects, sounds, colors etc.         in the room around them.

3)  What was the hardest part of this project?  The easiest?  Why do you think so?

3)  What flavor is your cupcake?  Why did you choose that?







Four Legged Animals

For this project, students will be creating an animal (of their choice) out of Earthen clay with four legs--a dog, cat, lion, alligator, chipmunk, etc.   They will learn how to communicate their ideas through form as well as how to recognize 3D forms vs. 2D forms in our environment.  Once their project dries for several weeks, they will paint it with glaze.


Questions to ask the first graders:

1)  What animal did you decide to mold?  Why did you choose this animal?

2)  What was the hardest part of this project?  What was the easiest?

3)  Where is one place you should not paint the glaze on your animal?  Why shouldn't your paint it there?


  





Jim Dine Heart Prints

In this project, students will be learning about American Pop artist Jim Dine and his heart paintings.  To begin, students will learn about the warm & cool colors, symmetry, and the style of printing when it comes to art making.  Then students will paint and print their hearts with tempera paint by opening and closing their papers.  To create the 3D effect, students will smudge black oil pastels around the edges.  



Questions to ask the first graders:

1)  What are the warm colors?  Cool colors?

2) How did you print your heart?  What were the steps it took to paint it?

3) What is symmetry?  Can you name a shape that is symmetrical?

4) What was your favorite part of this project?  Why do you think so?

Henry (1R) showing off his finished cupcake artwork

Noah (1H) glazing his four-legged ceramic animal

Emma (2B) shows off her paint mixing

London & Dominic (2M) work collaboratively on a holiday inspired "ABC" pattern drawing

Second Grade

Color Mixing

Second graders have been learning about color mixing, specifically experimenting with color relationships by mixing primary colors to create the secondary colors.   Students chose to experiment with colors using a large variety of mediums--paint, crayons, markers, tempera paint sticks, glitter, watercolors, oil pastels, chalk pastels, etc.  It was definitely a messy day!








Patterns

In this lesson, students identified and created "ABC" & "ABCD" patterns within their artwork using lines, shapes, and textures.  Students watched this scratch garden video to review the concept and then they chose their medium to demonstrate their understanding of patterns.  Many students gravitated towards drawing, while others chose painting, or stamping out their designs.  







Foreground, Middle Ground, & Background

The next unit of study for 2nd graders will be on spatial relationships.  Students will be able to distinguish the difference between the foreground, middle ground, and background in an artwork as well as adjust the size of a object to make it appear closer or farther away.  As a class we will discuss how to apply colors to a landscape using a variety of materials as well as review the concept of overlapping to make objects appear closer or farther away.  

Charlie (2N) shows off her paint mixing experimentation in which she demonstrates not only understanding, but she is able to teach her classmates through her art!

Parker (2M) uses colors to create "ABCD" patterns in an artwork she makes a personal connection with

Gwen (3Y) shows off her clay dog

Third Grade

Clay Sculptures

Third graders have been busy working with Earthen clay to create a balanced sculpture.  As a class we reviewed what the kiln was, the properties of clay, and how to join two pieces together using the score, slip, smooth method of clay attachment.  We learned about three different stages of clay:  the plastic stage, the greenware stage, and the bisque stage.  Then we discussed the difference between a shape vs. a form and how to join and create balanced forms.  Students used a variety of pottery tools to help them mold their sculptures using the additive or subtractive method--some students made dinosaurs while others created creatures, or abstract artworks.  Once the clay has dried for several weeks, students will paint their artwork with a variety of glaze colors.  


Questions you can as the 3rd graders:

1)   What are the 3 stages of clay?

2)  What did you sculpt out of clay?  Why did you choose this?

3)  Was this project easy or more difficult for you?  Why do you think so?

4)  Why can't Mrs. Gorruso heat wet clay in the kiln?  









Proportion & Scale

Students will be learning about the concepts of proportion and scale and the difference between them.  Their assignment will be to demonstrate their understanding by creating artwork either in or out of proportion using materials and subjects of their choice.









Foreground, Middle Ground, & Background

In this lesson, third graders will be able to distinguish the difference between the foreground, middle ground, and background in an artwork as well as adjust the size of a object to make it appear closer or farther away.  As a class we will discuss how to apply colors to a landscape using a variety of materials as well as review the concept of overlapping to make objects appear closer or farther away.  

Fourth Grade

Clay Vessels

Fourth graders are finishing up their Earthen clay vessels this month.  Students created a piece of pottery using a variety of methods such as extruding clay, rolling out clay slabs, and using the coiling method.  They were allowed to make any variety of vessel they wanted as long as they: 1) used the coiling method, 2) it was at least 4" tall (or 4" wide), and 3) it could hold water.  Once the pottery has dried for several weeks, it will be bisque fired in the kiln and students will paint them with a variety of glaze colors.  


Questions you can ask the fourth graders:

1)  What are the 3 stages of clay?

2)  What is the coiling method?  

3)  Describe how you would attach 2 different piece of clay together.

4)  What kind of vessel did you decide to make?  What do you plan on doing with your pottery?

Fifth Grade

Clay Sculptures

Fifth graders will be starting their Three-Dimensional Design unit after the New Year.  We will review the properties of clay, the three stages of clay (plastic, greenware, and bisque), and how to join two pieces together using the score, slip, smooth method of clay attachment.  For new learning, students will create a 3D form using the additive and subtractive method of construction.  I will leave the lesson open-ended for students, however, I will demonstrate multiple clay project ideas and techniques including mask making, chia pet construction, how to make a bobblehead, and making a clay whistle.  My hope is that students will create a meaningful sculpture that they have a personal connection with.    

Click here for the videos.

Pink Pledge Pizza and   Ice Cream Social

Jennings Elementary School earned the "Most School Participation" award and a $100 prize which was all spent back on the students.  Thirty-five students in grades  K-5 were invited to partake in a pizza and ice cream social on December 18th for participating in the FPS Pink Pledge art contest.   Lots of pizza, 4 different kinds of ice cream, and over a dozen serve-yourself toppings made for some very happy children!  Click here to see the pictures.


Art Club News:

Holiday Sing-a-long Decorations

When given the opportunity to to decorate the gym for the Jennings holiday sing-a-long, the 5th grade art club jumped at the chance.  The girls learned how to make 3D snowflakes and spent 3 weeks making over a dozen of them in all different colors.  Once they were completed, they attached yarn to them and hung them up in the gym.  Mr. Nick hung to large one from the basketball hoop, (although I had many volunteers who wanted to climb the ladder.)


As for the Stratfield sing-a-long, I personally made the 3D snowflakes for Mrs. Sugrue-Tate to hang.

From Left to Right:  Emma, Akshara, Samantha, Aleen, Allie, and Skylar

Jennings Parking Lot Sign

Members of the Jennings 5th grade art club were asked to install artwork inside the parking lot sign near the bus lane.  Students had a meeting with Mr. Vuolo about what he wanted to included on the sign--"Work hard and have a great day!"--and they got to work right away brainstorming a concept.  The group decided that "Jupiter" the Jennings Jaguar and Mr. Vuolo should be the subjects of the sign while standing on Jupiter and zooming through space--plus lots of stars!  The project took 1 month to paint from start to finish, and was finally installed on November 21st.

From Left to Right:  Margaux, Olivia, Mrs. Gorruso, Aleen, Samantha, Arianna, Jasmin, Fiona, Maia, Izzie, Akshara, and Violet

Pink Pledge FPS Art Contest 2024

to Benefit Norma Pfriem Breast Cancer Center

Phillip Kandalaf accepting the award for "Best Digital" artwork

Congratulations to Jennings first grader, Phillip Kandalaft, for winning  first place in "Best Digital" category of the Pink Pledge Art contest.   Winners were honored on November, 18th with a certificate from the Norma Pfriem Breast Cancer Center last week at FPS Central Office. 

Photos from the Art Room

Click on your child's current grade, and then click on any of their classes from K-5

Art History Spotlight:

Meet Edgar Degas

Edgar Degas was a French artist born in Paris in 1834. He was part of a style of artwork called Impressionism.  Degas is perhaps best known for painting ballet dancers. He was fascinated by them, and wanted to capture their grace and power. He often painted them backstage, getting ready for a performance.  You can learn more about him HERE.