This marks my third year collaborating with Mrs. Boysen-Taylor’s eighth grade class at the Palouse Prairie Charter School in Idaho for their Humanities Expedition. The students are off to a great start! Here’s a brief look at our process together and the students’ early progress.
To practice cutting skills, Mrs. Boysen-Taylor provides her students with a comprehensive worksheet.
Our process together is made up of multiple stages. First, the students read Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream and select a passage that resonates. Together, Ms. Boysen-Taylor and I share instruction and pointers on paper cutting techniques as the students sketch their designs for their selected passages. They share their sketches with me and I offer feedback by way of personal video critiques. Final drawings are made before moving to the actual paper cutting.
At the end of March, students watched my three videos sharing information and inspiration on what paper cutting can be, as well as a paper cutting demo. Now, a little over one month in to the project and their rough drafts are in my hands for review. I’ll film individual critiques over the weekend so the students have them on Monday. Spoiler alert, their drafts are pretty great! I’m always impressed by their ability to get an idea out of their heads and onto paper.
Mrs. Boysen-Taylor’s class watching the second of three videos I put together for them.
Students mastering their cutting skills:
Each year, Mrs. Boysen-Taylor dreams up the coolest ways to reproduce the students’ work. For example, last year the students made book marks, and you can read what they did with their book marks here. Such a fun, creative idea! I won’t give away what she’s dreamed up for this year’s class. Every year, I wish I could be a student in Mrs. Boysen-Taylor’s class. Going through this Expedition with them, even long distance, I can honestly say these are lucky students!
In a few short weeks, with permission granted by Mrs. Boysen-Taylor and the Palouse Prairie Charter School, I’ll share the students’ finished work. Until then, if you have any questions about the Expedition, please leave a comment! Also, if you collaborate on a student project with your local school, I’d love to hear about it!
HAVE YOU SEEN the dazzling carved wood quilts and kimonos by the incredibly talented Fraser Smith? http://www.gofraser.com
Finally, if you’re interested in following me on Instagram, please say hello @tierneybarden AND, to see how my fabrics are being used by talented makers, follow #tierneybarden! Thanks!