Quote of the Week

"The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding."
-Leonardo da Vinci



Wednesday, April 15, 2015

The Art Show and Monticello

First of all, a warm congratulations to our students and their beautiful work as it was seen displayed last Wednesday. I saw so many of our families come enjoy our showcase of their student's work, and it was a joy to see everyone appreciate the hard work that their students have completed this year. Well done!

Secondly, I want to share what our fourth graders are currently working on. They have been introduced to Neoclassical architecture, which derives its aesthetic from ancient Greek and Roman architecture. We learned about one of the most influential Neoclassical architects, Andre Palladio.
Palladio's structures were the inspiration for many famous Western buildings. We looked specifically at his Villa Rotonda and talked about how his work and Neoclassicism in general was the inspiration behind many famous American buildings and monuments.
The Villa Rotonda is thought to have directly inspired the designs for Thomas Jefferson's personal estate, Monticello, which provides the reference for our current project. Our fourth graders are currently working on an architectural drawing of Monticello. They have been making excellent progress and I am excited to see their finished work!