ESPrit de Corps

Trails of Learning
AIE Institute of Central New York Community Arts Council and Greene CSD
2008-2009

Teaching Artist: Charlie Bremer
Classroom Teachers: Donna Dajnowski (art teacher), Kelly Erickson (3rd grade), Marion Giannetto (4th grade), Anne Beach (5th grade), Ben Eggleston (5th grade), Kim Rullo (5th grade)

Nature Trail Journals
Students grade 3-5

This year’s focus was on the school’s nature trail, for which large embossed concrete markers were created under the guidance of teaching artist Charlie Bremer.  In Art Class, students designed covers for Trail Journals they used in their classrooms to document the theme of trails throughout the year. For the covers, 5th Graders based their designs on Wycinanki, symmetrical, highly stylized Polish papercuts featuring plants & animals.  4th Graders were inspired by the colorful & intricate radial designs found on many oriental rugs, & for their designs, they chose flora & fauna motifs.  3rd Graders created colorful & stylized  insect designs  based on Molas made by the Kuna people of San Blas Island. Students also worked collaboratively in Art Class & their classrooms to create designs & templates for the concrete nature trail markers.

Listen to Visual Art teacher Donna Dajnowski provide an overview of this project
GreeneCSD1.mp3 (7448 KB)

Listen to Donna Dajnowski talk about the importance of collaboration on a project like this one.
GreeneCSD2.mp3 (3109 KB)