In comparison to how other cultures celebrate Valentine's Day, Finland takes a very different take on the holiday. Finland has only been celebrating the holiday since the 1980s and formally since 1987. In Finland, Valentine's Day can be translated into "Friendship Day." Instead of being a day solely dedicated to romance, the Finnish people use the day to celebrate close friends and loved ones.
They do this in much the same way as Americans: by sending cards, personalized letters, small gifts, chocolate, and flowers. Valentine's Day is still celebrated between couples but is recognized as more of a day for friends and loved ones in general.
Groups of friends often go out to private parties and clubs. This is different because the evening in America is generally spent with a significant other.
Children could learn this culture by being asked to make a small craft for a close friend and include a note saying how much he or she cares about that friend. Instead of using the traditional colors and distributing generic valentines, children would be asked to explore friendships at a more intimate level. Kids could draw a picture, make a bracelet, craft, etc. for a special friend or family member.
-Kelly
Information received from http://www.finnguide.com/calendar/calendarevents.asp?month=2&p=9
Monday, February 7, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Three Approaches to Art
I have experienced all three approaches to art: the contextualist approach, the media approach, and the formalist approach. Of the three, I probably was exposed mainly to the media approach.
I have always been encouraged to use different media. The way my teachers taught this was to spend separate units on different media. Some of the media I used was colored pencil, crayon, marker, oil pastel, charcoal, tempera paint, watercolor, clay, yarn, glue, and glitter. I was challenged to make projects with various media.
During my middle school years in art, we took on the formalist approach. This was taught in a similar way as the media approach. Different projects were spent on various elements and principles of design such as perspective, complementary colors, and line.
The contextualist approach was rarely used in my art classes. This was focused on more in my Art Appreciation class as we explored the cultures during the time period of different paintings and pieces of art. We were asked to explain the meaning of artwork taking the culture and events of the time into account.
-Kelly
I have always been encouraged to use different media. The way my teachers taught this was to spend separate units on different media. Some of the media I used was colored pencil, crayon, marker, oil pastel, charcoal, tempera paint, watercolor, clay, yarn, glue, and glitter. I was challenged to make projects with various media.
During my middle school years in art, we took on the formalist approach. This was taught in a similar way as the media approach. Different projects were spent on various elements and principles of design such as perspective, complementary colors, and line.
The contextualist approach was rarely used in my art classes. This was focused on more in my Art Appreciation class as we explored the cultures during the time period of different paintings and pieces of art. We were asked to explain the meaning of artwork taking the culture and events of the time into account.
-Kelly
Rationales for Having Art in the Schools
There are many rationales for having art in the schools. Here I expand on a couple of these.
I believe that cultural understanding is important for students to encounter in schools. I remember exploring other cultures while in elementary and middle school. It helped me to understand how cultures of the past such as the Romans must have lived and interpreted the world. Personally, I never really learned to use art to express my culture. This may be more important for people closer to their cultures.
I have always used art to express important events in my life and been pushed to do so. In elementary school, I drew pictures that illustrated events in my life. In my later years of school, I used writing as a form of art to share personal experiences. I made creative timelines of my life several times during my high school years using pictures, collage, and color. This ties in to Personal Communication and Expression. It is important that students learn to express themselves in various ways including the arts.
During middle school, I was encouraged to experiment with artwork to express my self in a bolder way. It is important to nurture different views in artwork. It helps to share feelings in a personal way. Vocations are important to mention to students. The world needs more people involved in artistic careers. For a long while, I wanted to be an interior designer and then a fashion designer.
Teachers should spend time letting students explore the beauty in nature. Students could observe nature and draw from it. I did this in school using photographs I had taken. Doing this makes children examine the world around them and escape from the fast pace of life for a short while.
It is important throughout a child's young life to incorporate artwork in the school's curriculum. I believe this should be done all the way through high school so students do not lose their sense of creative and imagination. I had many creative projects mixed in with all of my core classes through high school. English classes always challenged me to analyze books and convey my message in some sort of art such as videos and posters. I made many scrapbooks as well.
-Kelly
I believe that cultural understanding is important for students to encounter in schools. I remember exploring other cultures while in elementary and middle school. It helped me to understand how cultures of the past such as the Romans must have lived and interpreted the world. Personally, I never really learned to use art to express my culture. This may be more important for people closer to their cultures.
I have always used art to express important events in my life and been pushed to do so. In elementary school, I drew pictures that illustrated events in my life. In my later years of school, I used writing as a form of art to share personal experiences. I made creative timelines of my life several times during my high school years using pictures, collage, and color. This ties in to Personal Communication and Expression. It is important that students learn to express themselves in various ways including the arts.
During middle school, I was encouraged to experiment with artwork to express my self in a bolder way. It is important to nurture different views in artwork. It helps to share feelings in a personal way. Vocations are important to mention to students. The world needs more people involved in artistic careers. For a long while, I wanted to be an interior designer and then a fashion designer.
Teachers should spend time letting students explore the beauty in nature. Students could observe nature and draw from it. I did this in school using photographs I had taken. Doing this makes children examine the world around them and escape from the fast pace of life for a short while.
It is important throughout a child's young life to incorporate artwork in the school's curriculum. I believe this should be done all the way through high school so students do not lose their sense of creative and imagination. I had many creative projects mixed in with all of my core classes through high school. English classes always challenged me to analyze books and convey my message in some sort of art such as videos and posters. I made many scrapbooks as well.
-Kelly
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