Category: Specialists

Student Self-Portraits

In art class with Ms. Natalie, all students have completed a self-portrait. Different grades explored different processes to arrive at their completed portrait, allowing students to express their creativity and practice different artistic skills.

Kindergarten and first grade students did exercises in self-exploration, while second graders created a silhouette portrait by collaging drawn images and words that express who they are and what they love.

Third grade started by drawing their classmates, and then used a reference photo of themselves to recognize the symmetry in their face. In fourth grade, students created symmetrical self-portraits by measuring each half of their face and using pencil to create their skin tone. The fifth graders also paid close attention to the symmetry in their face, and created expressive backgrounds for their portraits.

Finally, grades sixth-eighth used the grid method, drawing pencils, shading tools, and watercolor pencils to finish their artwork. Explore just some of the incredible examples below!

To continue their exploration of self, the third-eighth graders all completed poems to accompany their portraits. Third and fourth graders wrote bio poems which shared more about them in connection to their portraits, while fifth-eighth graders wrote haikus that, while short, expressed who they are on a deeper level.

From an artistic perspective, self-portraits are one of the most challenging projects an artist can attempt. Ms. Natalie observed every Saklan artist overcoming moments of frustration and dedicating themselves to developing their skills. Congratulations to every Saklan student on this project – we’re very proud!

#SaklanCreative

Eighth Grade Rockets

Since February, the eighth-grade students have been learning about physics in Science class. To start, they’ve learned about the forces on our planet: gravity, air resistance, friction, and centripetal force. They have also been thinking about Isaac Newton’s Three Laws of Motion, and working on ways to put those laws into real-life scenarios.

For example, eighth graders were tasked with creating a rocket that could fight air resistance and gravity, and that could exhibit all of Newton’s three laws. They started by designing paper airplanes, to learn how different designs could create different amounts of drag. Then, they graduated to rockets.

Working in pairs, students designed different wings and types of cones for the tops of their rockets, with the goal of building a rocket that could not only defy gravity, but also fly the highest out of the whole class.

All of their hard work culminated in an epic rocket launch in the parking lot across the street from the school. Students used an altimeter to measure the height of their rocket as it blasted into the air; while all the rockets reached great heights, one design made it an astonishing 40 meters–approximately 131 feet–in the sky!

#SaklanHandsOn

Dodging Rain Drops

In physical education class, Saklan students are learning how to dodge rain drops! The outside gymnasium gets wet during the winter and spring, and an umbrella and galoshes go a long way toward ensuring that all students can fully participate in outdoor activities. Parents can help by keeping an eye on the weather forecast and sending their student to school prepared with any wet weather outerwear or accessories students may need.

We are lucky to have redwood trees and a creek trail to explore during outdoor P.E. time, and the proper attire allows students to fully take advantage of the wonderful surroundings!

Fourth graders walk along the creek trail and back to Saklan during P.E. class.

#SaklanWellRounded

Radial Symmetry Printmaking

Third grade has been working with radial symmetry, which is symmetry that starts “radiating” from a central point. In art, the students looked at where radial symmetry is in nature and in human-made items such as Moroccan and Mexican tiles. Using variations of line thickness along with geometric and organic shapes, the students were able to create a symmetrical work of art that encompasses balance and unity. The printmaking process was notably the most exciting part of the project and the third graders were eager to print as many as possible! 

#SaklanCreative

How Many Steps in a Mile?

The students in kindergarten thru eighth grade have been equipped with pedometers while exercising during P.E. lessons. The devices are simple and only measure “steps,” but are equipped with a reset button. P.E. classes have had fun experimenting with what types of activities generate the most movement or steps. Students have had the opportunity to see how dribbling a ball compares to swinging on the swings, and how walking a mile compares to skipping rope. Some of the third graders came to the conclusion that shaking the sensor generates a higher count than spinning it on a finger.  Overall, it appears that students focus on generating a count with their pedometers, and that feedback adds a little extra motivation to continue to exert effort while participating in physical education exercises.

Lucas in kindergarten asked Mr. Crabtree to take a picture of the pedometer he was using in P.E. and send it to his mom, as he was interested in one for home use as well.  For any other parents that have received requests for pedometers, here are the pedometers the students are using at school:

#SaklanWellRounded

Life Lessons of 2020 in a Zine


What is a zine? A zine is short for Magazine and is a self-made booklet that tells a story, informs about an issue, and is fun to make! It’s origin dates back to 1776, with Thomas Paine’s self-published pamphlet, Common Sense, which advocated for the thirteen colonies to become independent from Great Britain. 

In returning from Winter Break online and entering into the new year, 1st-8th graders were asked to reflect on what lessons they learned about themselves and the world in 2020 and what they were excited about striving for in 2021. 2020 forced the world to face reality, good or bad, and with so much to learn from, the children triumphed over all of these obstacles to share what they found most rewarding, difficult, and inspiring. In seeing these zines created, we hope it inspires us all to continue to persevere, fight for justice, and take care of each other and ourselves.  

#SaklanCreative #SaklanThoughtful

Collaboration Blocks

Have you heard about Saklan’s collaboration blocks? These large blue blocks have been a favorite recess activity since they were introduced at the beginning of December.

The blocks are manufactured by Imagination Playground, and are designed to allow for open-ended play, giving children the freedom to create and pursue their own play activities. These blocks have produced numerous creations, giving our students the opportunity to not only have fun, but to further develop their logic and mathematical skills, problem solve, use their imaginations, and develop inter and intrapersonal skills.

Working together with classmates to build with the collaboration blocks has provided Saklan’s students with many opportunities for creativity, fun and learning. Check out the pictures below to see some of the creations the students have built.

The collaboration blocks were made possible by gifts to Saklan’s Annual Giving Fund. Saklan relies on the generous support of the community to provide the many extras, like the collaboration blocks, that make Saklan such a vibrant place for children to learn and develop. Thank you to all our generous AGF donors.

#SaklanCreative #MadePossibleByAGFGifts

Tiny Homes

Saklan students recently created tiny homes in art class. With all of us staying home this break, building a house made a whole lot of sense to the students.

The Tiny Homes Series was completed by most grade levels and was inspired by Ms. Natalie’s grandmother and her personal collection of ceramics. 

This was the artists first 3D project of the year and what’s more fun then clay?! Developing their craftsmanship, the students stretched and explored their capacity to create the tiny homes they had envisioned.

Normally the students would have used glaze, but for this project, watercolor and tempera paint was used to give each home detail and uniqueness. Check out some the the tiny homes below!

#SaklanCreative

Colorful Pumpkins

A big thank you to the Parent Association for buying every Saklan student a pumpkin for the Halloween holiday! Students in Kindergarten through eighth grade worked on decorating their pumpkins during art class. Ms. Natalie reminded the students of the dotted artwork of Yayoi Kusama, whose detailed painted pumpkins fit right in with the Halloween spirit. Even with a limited color palette, the students were able to paint unique creations!

Before getting to decorate their pumpkins, the Pre-K students first had to find them! The students went on a pumpkin hunt to find a pumpkin with their name on it. The students enjoyed scouring the early childhood playground in search of their pumpkins!

Once they found their pumpkins, the Pre-K students enjoyed expressing their creativity, by using sharpies to decorate them. They were very excited to get to take their pumpkins home and share them with their families.

Hoot Owls decorate their pumpkins.

#SaklanCreative