Ms. Timmons' 7th Grade Language Arts & Social Studies Class

This week, students will finish up their Lottery Quote Illustrations and two summative questions to end the unit. For Social Studies, we will start learning about Buddhism’s beliefs and history.

• UPCOMING DUE DATES:
  • ALL LATE WORK DUE TUESDAY, MAY 7 by 4 PM for 4th Quarter Progress Reports!
  • “The Lottery” Illustrations and Summative Questions due Thursday, May 9 (not for Progress Reports)
  • Buddhism Spiral Notes and Assignment due Friday, May 10

This week’s artist is actually a place called Gibbs Farm, a sculpture park located in New Zealand! Created in 1991, Gibbs Farm displays the largest collection of outdoor sculptures in New Zealand. The 990-acre park is host to 29 sculptures created by a variety of artists from all over the world. https://www.gibbsfarm.org.nz/artworks.php

This week, students are completing the OSAS Test for Reading and Writing. They will also be working with Leisa ReFalo on their Artful Learning Creation for “The Lottery!” Below are the Hinduism games the students created!

This week, students are continuing their analysis of “The Lottery” short story by Shirley Jackson. This is part of our Bernstein Artful Learning Unit on Change. In Social Studies, students will show their understanding of Hinduism by creating gameboards, which we will play on Friday!

• UPCOMING DUE DATES:
  • Due Friday, April 26: “The Lottery” Parts 4-5, and Critical Thinking Questions (yellow packet)
  • Due Friday, April 26: Hinduism Gameboards

This week’s artist is Ed Ruscha, a Pop Artist originally from Nebraska and Oklahoma. At age 86, he now lives in California, and continues to create art and photography. He is best known for his word paintings. Ruscha’s highest selling piece was Hurting the Word Radio #2 (1964), which sold for $52,485,000 in 2019. https://www.artnews.com/list/art-news/artists/ed-ruscha-artist-who-is-why-art-important-moma-retrospective-1234685047/1234685302/

This week, students will analyze “The Lottery” for vocabulary and theme, and discuss major literary elements in small groups. Students will also study Hinduism this week, focusing on its origins and beliefs.

• UPCOMING DUE DATES:
  • Due Friday, April 19: “The Lottery” Parts 1-3
  • Due Friday, April 19: Hinduism Slide Notes and Hinduism Assignment

“The Lottery” Background Information:

• The Dust Bowl (1930-1936): https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/united-states-history-primary-source-timeline/great-depression-and-world-war-ii-1929-1945/dust-bowl/
• The Great Depression (1929-1941): https://www.thoughtco.com/great-depression-pictures-1779916
• World War II (1939-1945): https://www.history.com/news/world-war-ii-iconic-photos

This week’s artist is Louise Bourgeois, a French-American artist who lived from 1911-2010 (she lived to 98 years old)! She is most famous for her giant, iconic steel sculpture of a spider entitled Maman, which she started developing different versions of in the 1990s (when she was in her 80s!). https://www.cnn.com/style/article/louise-bourgeois-spider-sold-record-intl-scli/index.html

“The Spider is an ode to my mother. She was my best friend. Like a spider, my mother was a weaver. My family was in the business of tapestry restoration, and my mother was in charge of the workshop. Like spiders, my mother was very clever. Spiders are friendly presences that eat mosquitoes. We know that mosquitoes spread diseases and are therefore unwanted. So, spiders are helpful and protective, just like my mother.”

— Louise Bourgeois

This week, students will be finishing up their American Gothic masterworks, and India Scrapbooks! We will also be reading “The Lottery” as part of our Bernstein unit–examining what this story by Shirley Jackson has in common with the painting American Gothic by Grant Wood.

• UPCOMING DUE DATES–We are officially starting Quarter 4!
  • American Gothic Masterwork and Artist Statement: DUE FRIDAY, APRIL 12
  • India Scrapbook, Shirley Jackson Biography, and Ancient India Video Notes: DUE FRIDAY, APRIL 12

This week’s artist is known as “The String Art Guy.” His actual name is Ben Koracevic, and he creates his amazing work in London. https://mymodernmet.com/ben-koracevic-string-art/

SURVEY LINK: https://tinyurl.com/239hd8su

This week, students will start a new Bernstein unit on the concept of Change, and will also be working on their summative project for the Ancient India unit.

• UPCOMING DUE DATES!
  • Wednesday, April 3 by 4:00 p.m.: ALL LATE WORK DUE!!!

This week’s artist is Chiharu Shiota, a Japanese artist who works with spaces in unique ways! https://www.chiharu-shiota.com/top https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/visit/exhibitions/toi-art/chiharu-shiota-web-time/chiharu-shiota/slideshow-art-chiharu-shiota

This week, students are continuing work on their India unit by focusing on the achievements of the Gupta empire. They are also choosing an article to write a current event report, including a summary and opinion paragraph.

• UPCOMING DUE DATES:
  • Thursday, March 21: Current Event #3
  • Thursday, March 21: Age of Guptas Assignment

Do Ho Suh is a Korean artist who focuses on using transparent fabrics to represent transitions in life. This includes rooms, hallways, stairs, apartments, houses, etc. He immigrated to the United States when he was young, and has moved several times throughout his life. These experiences have heavily influenced his artwork. https://www.lehmannmaupin.com/artists/do-ho-suh

This week, students are focused on revising, editing, and polishing their argumentative research essays to final drafts. In Social Studies, we will work on our India unit, in particular the Mauryan Empire.

• UPCOMING DUE DATES!
  • Wednesday, March 13: First Unification of India Assignment
  • Friday, March 15: Mauryan Video Questions
  • Friday, March 15: Argumentative Research Essay Final Draft

This week’s artist is Ron Mueck, who focuses on hyper-realism in his pieces. He is an Australian artist who currently lives in the UK. https://www.widewalls.ch/artists/ron-mueck

This week students will be working on revising and editing their argumentative research papers for Language Arts. In Social Studies, we will focus on starting a new unit on India.

• UPCOMING DUE DATES:
  • Wednesday, March 6: Pakistan Research Assignment
  • Friday, March 8: Revising/Editing Checklist and Revised Paper
  • Friday, March 8: Geography and Settlement of India

Boubou Niang is an artist that paints with the image being upside down AND he paints with every kind of object that is NOT a paint brush. He is 30 years old and lives in Senegal. https://madeinshoreditch.co.uk/2021/09/26/boubou-the-senegalese-artist-that-paints-using-everything-and-anything/

This week, students will work on the second portion of their Argumentative Rough Drafts, as well as finishing up their summative project for the Islam unit.

• UPCOMING DUE DATES!
  • Wednesday, February 28: ALL WORK DUE BY 4 PM FOR MIDTERMS!
  • Thursday, February 29: Argumentative Rough Draft Part #2 and Islam Project DUE! (not on midterms)

The Artist of the Week is David Zinn, a sidewalk chalk artist from Michigan who creates his images spontaneously while walking around outside. He has also written two books about his artwork and his process. Before designing sidewalk art, he worked for 20 years as a commercial artist for different companies. https://zinnart.com/

This week, students will work on the first three paragraphs of their argumentative rough drafts. In Social Studies, we will study the origins and belief system of Islam.

• UPCOMING DUE DATES!
• Monday, February 19: Origins and Spread of Islam DUE
• Wednesday, February 21: Islam Video Notes DUE
• Friday, February 23: Argumentative Rough Draft (first 3 paragraphs) DUE

Our Artist of the Week is Amy Sherald! She is an African American painter who is best known for her famous painting of Michelle Obama in 2018, which is now located in the Smithsonian’s Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. Currently, her paintings focus on everyday portraits of African Americans. https://www.hauserwirth.com/artists/11577-amy-sherald/

Due to MAPS testing, the West African Kingdoms Presentations will be this week instead! Students are all starting their Argumentative Research this week for their essays!

• UPCOMING DUE DATES:
• Monday and Tuesday, February 12 and 13: West African Kingdoms Presentations
• Tuesday, February 13: West African Slideshows DUE
• Friday, February 16: Argumentative Research DUE

Pat McGrath has been a makeup artist for over 25 years, and she is also the owner of her own line of beauty products. She also works as Beauty Editor for British Vogue, and provides makeup design for numerous fashion runways and shoots. She was raised by her Jamaican mother in Northampton, England. https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2017/aug/06/beauty-queen-how-pat-mcgrath-revolutionised-makeup

This week we are MAPS testing for Reading Comprehension and finishing up our lit circle groups. Students are also working on their slideshows and speeches for their summative grade on the West African Kingdoms unit. Speeches will be on Thursday and Friday.

DUE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9:

• Lit Circle Week 4 (bright green booklet)

• West African Kingdoms Slideshow and Speech (presentations Thursday, 2/8 and Friday, 2/9)

Erik Johansson is a Swedish photographer who is based in the Czech Republic. His surreal work combines multiple photographs using technology and creative methods. https://www.erikjo.com/work

This week, students will work on their Lit Circle books and focus on learning more aspects of West African kingdoms. We also have our BOOK LAUNCH PARTY on Friday during 5th and 6th periods! 🙂

• UPCOMING DUE DATES:
• Tuesday, January 20: Africa Kingdoms Packet
• Thursday, February 1: Cultural Legacy of Africa (on Canvas)
• Friday, February 2: Lit Circle Weeks 2 & 3 (bright green booklet)

This week’s artist is Alex Chinneck, a British artist who focuses on expansive projects that play with architecture in interesting twists! https://www.alexchinneck.com/projects

In Language Arts, we are resuming the Lit Circles, and in Social Studies, we are continuing our studies of West African Kingdoms.

• UPCOMING DUE DATES:
• January 23: Spread of Islam Assignment (on Canvas)
• THURSDAY, JANUARY 25: ALL WORK DUE BY 4 PM FOR QUARTER 2

This week, we are looking at artists who create amazing art based on the natural hair of African women.                   Fabio Gomes: https://www.brightvibes.com/brazilian-street-artist-incorporates-nature-as-natural-hair-in-portraits-of-black-women-and-girls/                 Pierre Jean-Louis: https://www.demilked.com/flower-galaxy-stars-afro-hairstyle-black-girl-magic-pierre-jean-louis/                 Tyler Clark: https://mymodernmet.com/tyler-clark-portraits-using-real-hair/                J.D. ‘Okhai Ojeikere: https://www.artsy.net/artist/jd-okhai-ojeikere

Did you miss “The Veldt” and “The Pedestrian” videos in class? Here they are! 🙂

Happy 2024! Unfortunately, I started the year with the flu, which I brought back with me from my visit to Peoria, Illinois, to see my family. So, there have been a few minor changes to the schedule. We are still beginning West African Kingdoms in Social Studies by looking at an overview of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. In addition, we are working on reading comprehension of two of Ray Bradbury’s short stories: “The Veldt” and “The Pedestrian.”

• UPCOMING DUE DATES:
• JANUARY 8: West African Kingdoms Overview AND Medieval Africa Video Notes
• JANUARY 9: Lit Circle Week 1 (bright green booklet)
• JANUARY 10: “The Veldt” Questions AND Africa Mapping Sheet
• JANUARY 11: “The Pedestrian” Questions AND Spread of Islam in Africa

This week we are completing Week 1 of our Literature Circles in class, we are starting a unit on West African Kingdoms with Geography Challenge, and typing Current Events that we will share in table groups.

• UPCOMING DUE DATES:
• Wednesday, December 20: Africa Geography Challenge (on Canvas)
• Thursday, December 21: Current Event #2 (on Canvas), Lit Circle Week #1 (bright green packet with the group’s book choice)

This week’s artists specialize in creating art from book pages!

Su Blackwell: https://www.sublackwell.co.uk/fineartportfolio/

Clarissa Sligh: https://clarissasligh.com/

This week we are completing our last Reading Logs for the year, then switching our focus to Literature Circles! The choice of books will be from different Oregon Battle of the Book titles, but not limited to. In Social Studies, we are continuing our understanding of Judaism origins and beliefs.

UPCOMING DUE DATES:

• Reading Log #4 due Tuesday, December 12
• Judaism Beliefs Assignment due Wednesday, December 13
• Judaism Quiz on Friday, December 15
• Literature Circles Week 1 due Friday, December 22

This week’s artist is Han Hsu Tung, a Taiwanese artist who specializes in wood sculptures that are made to look pixelated!

This week we are working on the final pieces of our Artful Learning unit: Creation and Reflection. Students will examine the Elements and Principles of Art to create a painted system on canvas. They will also need to explain aspects of their systems, how they work, and their artistic decisions. In Social Studies, we are starting to learn about our first of five major world religions: Judaism. For every religion, we study the origins and the belief system. This week, we are looking at the origins.

UPCOMING DUE DATES:

• Origins of Judaism Video Notes (in class): Monday, December 4
• Elements and Principles of Art Notes (in class): Tuesday, December 5
• Origins Assignment (in class/at home): Wednesday, December 6
• System Creation and Reflection (in class): Friday, December 8
• Reading Log #4 (in class/at home): Tuesday, December 12

This week’s artist is Verner Panton, a Danish interior designer, who lived from 1926-1998. Many of his pieces are still in production or have been reintroduced today. https://www.verner-panton.com/de/ http://modernmag.com/verner-panton-danish-design/

This week, students will polish their final drafts for their story anthologies. They will also put the finishing touches on their Pharaoh Tombs. Both of these assignments are Summative and will counted as part of Quarter 2.

UPCOMING DUE DATES:

• Friday, December 1st: Story Final Draft AND Pharaoh Tomb (BOTH FOR QUARTER 2)

This week it is all about dance (and there are so many forms of it)! We will look at dancers Vik White, Aubrey Fisher, as well as Miranda Derrick and James Derrick (BDash). (The header image is brought to you by artist Liu Bolin): https://liubolinstudio.com/

This week students will be creating their Egypt projects by researching a pharaoh of their choice, designing the tomb, and building it with a partner! In Language Arts, students are editing their stories to take them to publication!

UPCOMING DUE DATES:

• Friday, October 27: Narrative/Imaginative Final Drafts Due (in class/at home)
• Monday, October 30: Reading Log #3 (in class/at home)
• Tuesday, October 31: Pharaoh Research & Tomb (in class)
• TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31: COVER ART DEADLINE FOR BOOK!

Artist for the week: Max Alexander, Fashion Designer! Max is just 7 years-old, and has created over 100 designs since age 4! https://maxalexander.shop/

This week in Language Arts it’s all about revising and editing our narrative or imaginative stories! In Social Studies, we are finishing our work on Egyptian Social Structure, and beginning to study pharaohs!

DUE DATES:

• Monday, October 16: Egyptian Social Structure (green packet, in class)
• Friday, October 20: Story Revising & Editing Checklist (in class/at home)
• Monday, October 30: Reading Log #3 (in class/at home)

5th Annual Cover Art Contest! If you would like to enter the cover art contest and have a chance to be featured on the cover or in the pages of our class anthology, then follow these steps! Your cover must include:

• Ms. Timmons’ Classes
• Fall 2023
• Creative Title and Artwork (school appropriate)
• All artwork must be created by you personally, either by hand or on the computer
• CANNOT be created during class!
• DEADLINE: October 31st at midnight 🙂
• VOTING: November 1st in both classes!
• PRIZES: $10 Starbucks card and 2 pounds of candy for the Top Two winners, King Size candy bar for all other serious entries with effort

This week’s artist: Sadeck Waff, choreographer! He is known for his geometrical dance style that focuses on precise and synchronized movements. He has created choreography for Chris Brown and Shakira, and has competed on France Got Talent three times.

This week we start our Ancient Egypt unit in Social Studies, focusing on Daily Life and Social Structure. In Language Arts, we are continuing work on our narratives, with a focus on sentence combining.

DUE DATES:

1. Language Arts: Monday, October 9: Reading Log #2
2. Language Arts: Tuesday, October 10: Narrative Rough Draft
3. Social Studies: Thursday, October 12: Egyptian Social Structure Packet

This week’s artist: Dale Chihuly! He is based in Seattle, and there is an amazing Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum located there! https://www.chihulygardenandglass.com/

October 1-7 is Banned Books Week!

American Library Association Website

JMS Banned Books Week Slideshow

This week we are starting our Narrative/Imaginative paper in Language Arts! We are also finishing up the Sumer and Mesopotamia final projects, and beginning our unit on Ancient Egypt!

DUE DATES: Thursday, October 5: Sumer/Mesopotamia Project (in class); Monday, October 9: Reading Log #2 (at home); Tuesday, October 10: Narrative Rough Draft (in class/at home)

Artist this week: Hypno Motion (Andrew)! His stop-motion Legos focus on cooking!

This week we are completing our Common Writing Assessment for 7th grade to see where are writing skills are at for the beginning of the year. In addition, we are continuing our Artful Learning Unit by discussing the concept. We will also have mini-conferences in class to discuss our MAPS reading scores and goals for the year. For Social Studies, we will continue our unit on Sumer and Mesopotamia.

DUE DATES: ALL LATE WORK DUE BY WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 27 by 4:00 PM! Language Arts: Monday, October 9: Reading Log #2 (at home) Social Studies: Monday, September 25: Sumer Station Packet (bright green, in class/at home)

This week’s artist: Victoria Vallasana!

This week we are taking the MAPS test for reading comprehension. We will also be finishing up our pastels and Artist Statements. In Social Studies, we will start studying Sumer and Mesopotamia.

DUE DATES: Monday, September 18: Pastel and Artist Statement (in class) Tuesday, September 19: Investigating History Slideshow (in class) Wednesday, September 20: Reading Log #1 (at home) Friday, September 22: Sumer Station Packet (in class)

This week’s artist: Filthy Luker https://www.filthyluker.org/

This week, students are starting to analyze artwork for the start of our Bernstein Artful Learning unit! They will create pastels with gold foil to experience the masterwork of “The Kiss” by Gustav Klimt, and write an Artist Statement to explain their artistic choices. In Social Studies, we will start by examining how history is studied, including the first artifacts of cave paintings.

DUE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15: Pastel with Artist Statement & Investigating History Slideshow DUE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20: Reading Log #1 (All assignment directions located on Canvas)

This week’s artist: Tatsuya Tanaka, Miniature Artist

I am looking forward to another creative and productive year with my 7th grade classes! This website is an excellent way to keep on track with what we are learning in class and due dates, so a perfect place to check, along with Canvas, when you have to miss class!

Another aspect I always like to include in class is examining a different artist and their work at the beginning of each week. We will discuss in class the importance of art and seeing all subjects tied together because each subject doesn’t neatly fit into into individual boxes!

Our first artist is Marie Watt, and I chose her because she lives in Portland and much of her art has themes that valuable to discuss, much like themes in literature. Below are a few links that include her biography, artwork, and a video. I can’t wait to study them and discuss!

My goal for this year, as always, is that we will work together as a team that values respect, kindness, gratitude. We will challenge each other to be focused and hard working, and lift each other up when someone needs a boost. Perfection is not the goal, but growth as a learner and a loving human.

I know we got this! Please contact me whenever you need anything. My email is ktimmons@pps.net and I always respond as soon I possibly can.

This will be the best year yet!

Sincerely, Ms. Timmons

Marie Watt Links

https://mariewattstudio.com/

https://www.artsy.net/artist/marie-watt

https://americanart.si.edu/artist/marie-watt-30880

Carol Milne is the artist for this week! Also, check out all of the amazing glass artists in the first website!

https://www.skillshare.com/en/blog/glass-artists-who-break-barriers-with-their-art/

https://www.carolmilne.com/knittingwithneedles/cast-off

2023-24 Battle of the Books Preview!!!

This week’s artist is Parth Kothekar! Check out his amazing artwork entirely made from the art of paper cutting.

https://www.parthkothekar.com/

https://mymodernmet.com/parth-kothekar-paper-cut-out-art/

https://www.boredpanda.com/papercut-by-parth-kothekar/utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic

https://www.artic.edu/highlights/49/a-aapi-artists

Isamu Noguchi, Japanese sculptor: https://www.noguchi.org/isamunoguchi/biography/biography/

https://untappedcities.com/2017/02/22/7-works-by-the-artist-isamu-noguchi-in-nyc/?displayall=true

I could never believe that the experience of sculpture had to be restricted to vision only. The making and ownership of art could also be beyond personal possession—a common and free experience.

–Isamu Noguchi

https://blog.artsper.com/en/a-closer-look/10-things-you-should-know-about-anish-kapoor/amp/

Georges Seurat (born December 2, 1859, Paris, France—died March 29, 1891, Paris) was a painter and known for founding and using a technique that portrays the play of light using tiny brushstrokes of contrasting colours. This became known as Pointillism. Using this technique, he created huge compositions with tiny, detached strokes of pure color too small to be distinguished when looking at the entire work but making his paintings shimmer with brilliance (Brittanica).

https://www.artic.edu/artists/40810/georges-seurat

The artist for this week is Damien Hirst. He is an English artist known for being very famous during the 1990s in the United Kingdom. Death is a major theme in his artwork, especially with his series called Natural History, which features preserved dead animals such as a cow, sheep, and shark. The animals are floating in formaldehyde, and sometimes segmented (see the photo above). He is also one of the richest artists, with a net worth of $250 million.

https://www.wikiart.org/en/damien-hirst

https://youtu.be/sXcRcyBHD74

Link to Artist Yong Hong Zhong: https://www.yonghongzhong.com/

Practice PT (Performance Task) or Essay Test: https://osasportal.org/

Andres Valencia, born in 2011 (12 years old), is an artist from California known for large, dramatic, colorful figurative paintings that are influenced by Cubism.

https://mymodernmet.com/andres-valencia-art-prodigy/

Student District Survey: https://www.research.net/r/JacksonPPSStudent

For Practice Testing: https://osasportal.org/

ALL WORK FOR 3rd QUARTER is DUE

FRIDAY, APRIL 7th by 4:00 p.m.!!!

Alma Woodsey Thomas (September 22, 1891 – February 24, 1978) was an African-American artist and teacher who lived and worked in Washington, D.C., and is now recognized as a major American painter of the 20th century. Thomas is best known for the “exuberant”, colorful, abstract paintings that she created after her retirement from a 35-year career teaching art at Washington’s Shaw Junior High School. (Wikipedia)

https://americanart.si.edu/artist/alma-thomas-4778

Georgia O’Keeffe was an American modernist artist. She was known for her paintings of enlarged flowers, New York skyscrapers, and New Mexico landscapes. 

Link to Georgia O’Keeffe Museum: https://collections.okeeffemuseum.org/

Yayoi Kusama is a Japanese artist who works in sculpture and installation, and is also active in painting, performance, video art, fashion, poetry, fiction, and other arts. Her work is based in conceptual art.

Link to Yayoi Kusama biography and artwork: https://hirshhorn.si.edu/kusama/yayoi-kusama/

Frida Kahlo was a Mexican painter who lived from 1907-1954 who is well-known for her self-portraits. She is also known for her paintings of Mexican artifacts and nature. Her work is considered surrealist. Surrealism is a movement in art and literature which looks to release the creative potential of the unconscious mind.

Frida Kahlo website to explore: https://artsandculture.google.com/project/frida-kahlo

Updates: Malala Essay Rough Draft now due Friday, March 3 India Scrapbook Project due Friday, March 10

ALL late work and regrades still due by Tuesday, February 27 by 4:00 p.m.

Let truth destroy the dividing prejudices of nationality and teach universal love without distinction of race, merit or rank. 

–Carter G. Woodson

Article about the descendants of Carter G. Woodson, and their ties to both enslavement and slave ownership: https://www.npr.org/2023/02/19/1154563737/woodsons-slaves-black-history-month-family-heal

UPDATE: Malala Essay Rough Drafts now due Friday, March 3rd

ALL WORK currently on Canvas gradebook

STILL DUE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28 by 4:00 p.m.

FOR QUARTER 3 MIDTERMS 

Bisa Butler was born in New Jersey, the daughter of a college president and a French teacher. Butler’s artistic talent was first seen at the age of four, when she won a blue ribbon in an art competition. Bisa Butler was a high school art teacher for 13 years. She created a portrait of Nobel Peace Prize recipient Wangari Maathai (Kenyan activist and the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize). This portrait became the cover for the 2020 Time Magazine issue honoring the 100 Women of the Year.

More about Bisa: https://www.npr.org/2021/08/15/1025950962/black-lives-are-celebrated-in-bisa-butlers-extraordinary-technicolor-quilts

Let truth destroy the dividing prejudices of nationality and teach universal love without distinction of race, merit or rank. 

–Carter G. Woodson

Article about the descendants of Carter G. Woodson, and their ties to both enslavement and slave ownership: https://www.npr.org/2023/02/19/1154563737/woodsons-slaves-black-history-month-family-heal

This week’s artist: Kehinde Wiley, born in 1977, paints realistic portraits of African Americans in the context of Old Master paintings. He was commissioned in 2017 to paint of portrait of former President Obama for the Smithsonian, which has portraits of all the previous American presidents. To learn more about this artist, go to this link: https://kehindewiley.com/

If you are interested in the street art above, check out this link to learn more about the artist and other street artists: https://interestingengineering.com/culture/25-amazing-images-of-3d-street-art

Artist Arghavan Khosravi: Arghavan Khosravi is an Iranian-born American visual artist, and illustrator. She is known for her three dimensional paintings with works that cross between the traditions of European Renaissance and Persian miniature; with themes of freedom, exile, and empowerment. See more at: https://www.arghavankhosravi.com/

About the mural above: Eduardo Kobra is a street artist from Brazil. He makes kaleidoscopic portraits of leading international personalities who have fought in the name of peace. Kobra has said, “The street is a way to socialize, to have fun and also to protest against exclusion.” To see more of Kobra’s art, check out this link: https://www.eduardokobra.com/

The mural above is located in Portland, on Northeast Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. The artist, Christian Grijalva, who created the mural in 2020, stated, “I want them to be inspired, I want them to know that through art, that’s also a way of protest,” he said. 

Martin Luther King, Jr. slideshow and video: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1DI0vDdYCWk31T5JlEUWa1n6-jMaawggmK-OQhxtLuSs/edit#slide=id.p

ALL WORK for 2nd QUARTER is DUE TUESDAY, JANUARY 24th by 4:00 p.m.!!!

To see more information about the painting above, see this link: https://www.arthistorykids.com/blog/247

For more information on the image above: https://tafc.space/qna/the-topologists-world-map/ 2022 Recap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLDFgKzWy3o

For the week of January 3-6: We are starting to learn about the history and belief system of Hinduism (Hinduism Assignment due Friday, January 6). In Language Arts, students are reading I am Malala, and creating an evidence board of quotes to prepare them for writing a paper on Malala. Related article and news video: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-taliban-ban-women-university-protests-men/32199112.html https://youtu.be/g35t_EbRgQo

Here are the Oregon Battle of the Books for this year! https://www.oregonbattleofthebooks.org/2022-2023-obob-partial-title-list/ Any student can participate in the Battle of the Books competition, and the first Jackson competition is February 15th! Also, I have all of these books in the classroom, if students would just like to read the books without competing!

Cover Art Submissions Due Wednesday, December 14 by 4 p.m.!!! Artwork must be 8.5 x 11, colorful, with an original title, Ms. Timmon’s 7th Grade Classes, 2022-23, and can be turned in digitally or by paper.

Four possible articles for Current Event #3 (Due Friday, December 16):

1) Florida Teacher Accuses Muslim Students of “Magic”

2) Iran’s Morality Police and Hijab Law

3) Possible Controversial Homelessness Law in State of New York

4) Supreme Court Examines Businesses’ Right to Deny Services to the Gay Community