Royal Dogs Inspired by the Baroque Period

Sixth graders learned that the Baroque Period has been called the Ornate Age because of places like Versailles.  Under the direction of King Louis XIV of France, Versailles was transformed from a hunting lodge to the largest palace in the world.  The rooms were decorated with marble floors, printed carpets, patterned wall paper, and paintings on the walls - even the ceilings were decorated. Imagining what kind of pets would live at Versailles, students drew and then painted a French bulldog wearing a crown.

Thanks to Patty at Deep Space Sparkle for this fun idea!

Dramatic Stories - The Baroque Era

During the Baroque Period, which was from 1600 to 1750, artists rebelled against tradition.  Instead of copying Roman and Greek figures, they chose models from everyday life and portrayed human emotions that often dramatized a story.  Seventh graders were asked to draw their self portraits and include a background that told a dramatic story. 

"When I moved from Texas to Georgia..."

"When I went to Kosrae..."

"When my dog died..."

"When I fell off my skateboard..."

"When I moved from Ohio to Georgia..."

"When my mom's car was struck by lightening..."

"When I went to the cemetery..."

"When I had to be in the delivery room with my mom..."

"When I fell face first in the park..."

"When I fell, hit my head, and saw God..."

"When I went to jail..."

"When I played basketball..."

"When my nephew was born on the 4th of July..."

"When my Dad came home from the army unexpectedly..."



"How I feel about my little sister..."



"When I got lost..."

"When I got my dog..."

"When I lived in Missouri..."

"When I lived in San Francisco..."

"When I went to my uncle's funeral..."

"The good and bad side of me..."

The Middle Ages - Illuminated Letters

Eighth grade students studied the Middle Ages and viewed examples of illuminated manuscripts and letters.  Their project was to create an illuminated letter that includes at least five things that begin with that letter.  They used colored pencils, markers and gold paint for their artwork.