Sound check.

Lighting.

Cameras roll.

Action!

Our first virtual session began on Tuesday 15th. March. We didn’t know how it would be, and I was rather apprehensive…….. but no worries………. the gods of IT were smiling on us!

Vanya appeared in the top left hand corner of the IWB and everyone was delighted to see her. We chatted for a while, recapped on what we had done during the “real” visit and off we went…………. She showed us a photograph of her artist friend’s ( Amanda Jane Graham) gigantic white knitted hat! “WOW!” everyone exclaimed.

We looked at photographs of Dutch women wearing traditional hats and costumes. We wondered what they (the hats) were made of. They were stiff , but yet light enough to wear.

THEN, Vanya introduced us to the work of Dutch artist Hendrik Karstens. He takes photographs (in the style of old Masters), of women wearing hats and accessories made from everyday things. There was an image of a model wearing a book on her head. Naturally this inspired me to imitate the image by putting an open book across my own head. Vanya suggested finding things in the classroom which the boys and girls could use in a similar way. The floodgates opened and a parade of head attire ensued. What a lot of creative thought came from that photograph!!

We have put a selection of the “hat” photographs on the Pupil Gallery.

After the euphoria of “hat-fest,” Vanya reined us in to talk about the weather in Sligo and in Belfast. We told her about our Cloud Finders and she showed us her more sophisticated version. We talked about different types of clouds, and what weather they brought… we mentioned NIMBUS and STRATUS. She also asked if anyone had flown in an aeroplane and had seen clouds that are very high up in the atmosphere. One of our classroom assistants, Mrs May told her that she would take some photographs when she flies to Paris next week.

Then we moved on to artists who liked paining clouds. We looked at a painting by an Irish painter, PAUL HENRY. The boys and girls gave their opinions about how they interpreted the work. Vanya mentioned that there was a cloud named PILEUS in the painting. Next, a very violent sea scene was presented by WILLIAM TURNER. I think it is so enriching for the children to experience the works of a variety of artists and have the opportunity to talk and share what they see and feel, particularly when our resident artist is available to offer her own thoughts too.

Then we talked about Vanya’s parcel…the selection of mosses and lichens which she had sent from Sligo. We told her that we had looked at the moss using magnifying glasses and then we had a brainstorming session to find as many adjectives as possible to describe the moss. We produced a display for the corridor and our Literacy Co-ordinator, Ms Bell popped in during the week to say that she liked it! Vanya showed us more photographs and drawings of different types of moss and finished with a specimen which looked like snake skin.

AFTER BREAK we had a practical session. Vanya demonstrated first. We wet each child’s sheet of cartridge paper and then they put a splash of green and red paint on top. They used cocktail sticks to drag lines though the paint. There was great enthusiasm for this task, maybe too much in some cases, as several holes appeared on a few sheets! This was definitely a great learning experience! The children realised that mixing red and green produces brown.

PLENARY: We had a “round up” of what we did, what we had learned, what went well, and what we could do next. Using the cocktail stick as a tool was very tricky. It was very narrow and difficult for the children to use. BUT…it was a new experience and very worthwhile. We thought of other tools which might produce better results: felt tips or colouring pencils were suggested.

FINALLY: Dillon H told Vanya that he had just become a brother to triplets a few days ago.. two boys and a girl. CONGRATULATIONS!

Then Vanya showed us photographs of Oscar and Juno. Everyone said, “Aahhh” and “Ohhhh!”

GOOD-BYE VANYA The children had to go to lunch and dinners. Unfortunately, I had to return to tidy up on my own. The moral of the story? Next week, finish the practical task earlier and everyone can help to tidy up!!

Can’t wait to see what’s in store for us next week, our last session before Easter.