By Nikole Dugger
Staff Writer
Expanding beyond such basics as reading, writing and arithmetic, Ganns-Middle Valley Elementary School in Hixson today concentrated on the creative arts.
The 13th annual “Art Explosion” has converted the school’s 23 classrooms into 23 different activity stations.
“It’s like having a fieldtrip come to you,” said Jeanni Highlander, music teacher and event coordinator.
Students and parents raised more than $2,000 to purchase the materials and to pay the artists that make the day a reality, she said.
Exhibits in puppetry, folk music, African dancing and origami are among those in rotation.
By mid-morning, Mrs. Courtney Sentillies’ third grade class had already watched a puppet show and made fish prints.
Before taking in some African drumming, they huddled outside to learn about the intricacies of blacksmithing.
“It’s really cool the way he’s bending metal and scrubbing it to make it white,” said 9-year-old Kayla McGuire.
Kit Wattenbarger usually spends his Friday mornings wearing latex gloves and forming molds of patients’ teeth, but today he stood on the school’s front lawn in a T-shirt working with a fire pit.
The Soddy-Daisy orthodontist volunteered his time to show students how to turn black metal into items like Celtic crosses and puzzles.
“It’s absolutely fun,” said Mr. Wattenbarger, who is married to the school librarian. “I don’t know where old folks can have more fun than with other people’s kids —; you can wind ’em up and send ’em on their way.”
E-mail Nikole Dugger at ndugger@timesfreepress.com
Staff Photo by Nikole Dugger
Blacksmith Kit Wattenbarger demonstrates the
techniques of his trade for Mrs. Courtney Sentillies'
third grade class during today's "Art Explosion" at
Ganns-Middle Valley Elementary School in Hixson.
Staff Writer
Expanding beyond such basics as reading, writing and arithmetic, Ganns-Middle Valley Elementary School in Hixson today concentrated on the creative arts.
The 13th annual “Art Explosion” has converted the school’s 23 classrooms into 23 different activity stations.
“It’s like having a fieldtrip come to you,” said Jeanni Highlander, music teacher and event coordinator.
Students and parents raised more than $2,000 to purchase the materials and to pay the artists that make the day a reality, she said.
Exhibits in puppetry, folk music, African dancing and origami are among those in rotation.
By mid-morning, Mrs. Courtney Sentillies’ third grade class had already watched a puppet show and made fish prints.
Before taking in some African drumming, they huddled outside to learn about the intricacies of blacksmithing.
“It’s really cool the way he’s bending metal and scrubbing it to make it white,” said 9-year-old Kayla McGuire.
Kit Wattenbarger usually spends his Friday mornings wearing latex gloves and forming molds of patients’ teeth, but today he stood on the school’s front lawn in a T-shirt working with a fire pit.
The Soddy-Daisy orthodontist volunteered his time to show students how to turn black metal into items like Celtic crosses and puzzles.
“It’s absolutely fun,” said Mr. Wattenbarger, who is married to the school librarian. “I don’t know where old folks can have more fun than with other people’s kids —; you can wind ’em up and send ’em on their way.”
E-mail Nikole Dugger at ndugger@timesfreepress.com
Staff Photo by Nikole Dugger
Blacksmith Kit Wattenbarger demonstrates the
techniques of his trade for Mrs. Courtney Sentillies'
third grade class during today's "Art Explosion" at
Ganns-Middle Valley Elementary School in Hixson.
