Remembering Trey

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a Latin American Holiday traditionally observed on Nov. 1 and 2.  Dia de los Muertos is a lighthearted and joyful tribute to the memory of family and friends that have passed away. It is about remembering and celebrating the lives of loved ones.

Each year at TTE third graders participate in this beautiful custom by creating a Calavera (Sugar Skull) in memory of a loved one or pet.   Students celebrate the live's of their remembered love ones through the creation and decoration of their Calavera using symbols that are unique to those they are celebrating. As a teacher it warms my heart to have a student truly take this project to heart and create a work that reflects real life.

I was deeply touched by Rylan's Tribute to Trey.  Trey was a lively boy with a bright smile and golden curls.  Rylan and Trey were in day care and Pre-K together before they were both in Kindergarten here at Timber Trail Elementary.  Rylan's Calavera was created to honor and celebrate the life of his friend. Choosing to honor Trey shows how he valued and celebrated their friendship through art. Rylan tried to capture Trey's spirit and zest for life.  The colors and symbols he chose were specific to represent his relationship with his good friend.

Calavera (Sugar Skull) Created in Memory of Trey 

Rylan's Writing Explaining His Calavera

Trey and Rylan

Trey and Rylan - Friends for Life and Longer

Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos is a beautiful  Latin American holiday that celebrates the life of loved ones who have passed away.  At TTE third grade students create Sugar Skulls (Calaveras) in honor of somebody important to them who has passed. Students were also given the option to to remember a friend or loved one who lives far away as well as beloved pets who have passed.

Students choose who they would like to remember for the project and then create their Calaveras out of white clay. 

Clay Calaveras before being decorated

Once clay is hardened students create their designs to represent the lives of their chosen loved one using a limited pallet as well as traditional and student created symbols.  "Sugar" is applied using a special paste and clear glitter.

Finished Calaveras, decorated and sugared

Students created a backing out of different colored mat-board complete with a name plate for display. They finished the project by writing about their who they chose to remember. 

Below are some close-up pictures of various Calaveras that were created by 3rd Grade students

Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos is a beautiful  Latin American holiday that celebrates the life of loved ones who have passed away.  At TTE third grade students create Sugar Skulls (Calaveras) in honor of somebody important to them who has passed. Students were also given the option to to remember a friend or loved one who lives far away as well as beloved pets who have passed.

Students choose who they would like to remember for the project and then create their Calaveras out of white clay. 

Clay Calaveras before being decorated

Once clay is hardened students create their designs to represent the lives of their chosen loved one using a limited pallet as well as traditional and student created symbols.  "Sugar" is applied using a special paste and clear glitter.

Finished Calaveras, decorated and sugared

Students created a backing out of different colored mat-board complete with a name plate for display. They finished the project by writing about their who they chose to remember. 

Below are some close-up pictures of various Calaveras that were created by 3rd Grade students

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from the TTE Art Room! 

Art, Health, Music and Custodian Dan dressed as The Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf.  The Big Bad Wolf chased the Three Little Pigs through all of the classrooms.  

Straw House Piggy and Big Bad Wolf

Cool Student Costumes

Halloween Themed Dance Party in the Gym during specials! 

DCSD Faculty Show

If you haven't had the chance to see the artwork created by the talented Art Teachers of DCSD, you have one week left! It's located at the Highlands Ranch Branch of the Douglas County Library System.  For more information, see below -  one of the promotions for the show.  My Blue Calla Lily made it into the art promotional ad!

Monsters, Monsters Everywhere!!

Monsters are hanging out in the halls of TTE!  First grader students created these fun monsters using construction paper crayons on black paper. Below are some of the fun first grade monsters.

Happy Fall Break!!