Sami Auster
Art Educator/Artist/ Student
Putnam Elementary
Settings And Context
Classroom Environment
Community & Culture
Demographics
Grades: Preschool - 5th
Student to Teacher Ratio: 14:1
Total Enrollment: 334
Free/Discounted Lunch: 86.2%
Student Diversity
Hispanic 58%
White 35%
Two or more races 4%
Black 2%
Asian 1%
American Indian/
Alaska Native 1%
Hawaiian Native/
Pacific Islander <1%
Putnam’s curriculum incorporates a school-wide science focus in all subjects. Students use the scientific method and inquiry to develop critical thinking skills that prepare them for a lifetime of productivity and learning. Putnam’s motto is P.R.I.D.E. - Positive Attitude, Respect, Integrity, Determination and Empathy. At Putnam students good behavior is rewarded with paws which students can trade in for prizes! Putnam also offers free breakfast in the morning.
Putnam also sends home backpacks full of food on the weekends with students whose family are struggling. The school also has a free coat program and also provides struggling families with everyday essentials such as soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, hairbrush, socks and underwear!
In Putnum's art classroom each table was labeled with a color/ element of art. The students had a daily routine set in place for art. When they entered the classroom the students would collect their sketchbooks and have 5 minutes of silent where they worked on a step by step drawing that was projected on the board. This was a very useful transition activity that helped the students refocus after transitioning between classes. Within the classroom students were disciplined using the ladder of response system. This is a school wide management policy where reminders follow the students throughout the day. This tool was extremely effective in teaching students that their actions will follow them throughout life. The ladder of response was as follows: 1st reminder, 2nd reminder, think sheet (a worksheet where students reflect on their behavior), councilor intervention and then a call home and a meeting with the principle.
1st Grade
Lesson 1
Secret Doors
In this lesson students created secret doors out of popsicle sticks, their doors were camouflaged within their painted backgrounds. Behind their doors, students created portals to places all around the world as well as imagined places!
Lesson Plan
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2nd Grade
Lesson 1
Seeing In The Dark
In this lesson students explored positive and negative space by drawing a place at night time and illuminating a specific object with a drawn flashlight. The students used white charcoal on black paper and then cut out a beam of light using white paper.
Lesson Plan
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Power Point
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3rd Grade
Lesson 1
Agamographs
In this lesson students explored the idea of warm and cool colors by creating an agamograph with oil pastels making one image all cool colors and the second image all warm colors.
Lesson Plan
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Power Point
4th Grade
Lesson 1
Alberto Giacometti Sculptures
In this lesson students explored 3d materials and created sculptures inspired by Alberto Giacometti's "Walking Man" sculpture. The students created their sculptures using pipe cleaners,
aluminum foil and duct tape.
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Lesson Plan
5th Grade
Lesson 1
Insect Printmaking
In this lesson students learned about relief printmaking. They created an insect and carved it out of linoleum.