Art-o-Rama

POSTER CHILDREN:  The kids are working on props for a backdrop for a Black History Month presentation. They will be used to help tell a brief synopsis of the story of African Americans, from slavery through Brown v. Board of education.

Obviously, the Civil War was a big part of this experience. We found a clip art Abe Lincoln head that would be easy to project and trace, and we did just that.

 And then it was time to fill in the dark areas. 

 Not a bad Abe, I'd say.

We also needed to show how the north developed along more industrial lines ... 

 The kids had fun with watercolors on this one ... 

On the other hand, the south was dependent on agriculture. The kids used crayons to color this.

A few hours into the project, I regret to report we had rather racist looking walls. CJ pulled the shades for fear someone outside would see the posters. I told him that was silly, raised the shades and then spun around and saw the signs. I pulled the shades back down. :/ 

Context is everything.

ZIGGY TROOPER: So, we like Star Wars. And David Bowie. Imagine our delight upon seeing this Stormtrooper helmet with a Ziggy Stardust lightning bolt. (We first spotted it a couple of days before Bowie died, by the way.)

We simply had to buy one and give it the Ziggy treatment. 

MARTIAN FARMING:  Way back in mid-October, Annabelle received a potato in the mail. Yes, really! It was a potato, mailed to Annabelle just before her birthday, thanks to a movie promotion for "The Martian" I signed her up for.

The potato was a lot healthier looking last October. Now, it's got some multiple eyes and bumps and its skin has lost its youthful glow and elasticity (welcome to the club). Time to pitch it or plant it. 

We opted for planting it, hoping to have as much luck growing Martian potatoes as Mark Watney from the movie. 

CJ read instructions about how to plant it, and so that's what they did this afternoon.

Wish us luck, and pass the ketchup (pardon "The Martian" joke).