SETTING + CONTEXT
FOSSIL RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL | FORT COLLINS, CO
Overview & Takeaways
At Fossil Ridge, I was teaching swapping between two different grade 9-12 classrooms. My class sizes were about 10-15 students in-person and 15-20 students online, in the hybrid model, so I was teaching both online and in-person succinctly. The students were very kind and excited to learn--I loved chatting with them and learning about them as people and hearing things about their lives. I had very few behavior issues thanks to the supportive differentiated learner program which really set up those students for success. As a Fossil Ridge alumni, I loved the opportunity to return to the school as an educator and see the other side of the educational experience. I was very close with the art team in high school, so it was a really interesting experience to join the team and experience the crazy amount of work that happens behind the scenes (which I had no idea about in high school). This close-knit team experience and personable experience with my students is a feeling I would like to carry with me into my first employment experience as a teacher. I truly enjoy the personal connections I am able to make with students at the high school level and the depth/detail they are able to create within their projects.
Mission Statement
The mission at Fossil Ridge High School is to ensure, that upon graduating from Fossil Ridge High School, each student will possess the character, skills, aptitude, and knowledge to successfully engage in every option they choose in work and in post-secondary education.
Fossil Ridge's goal is “Excellence, Everywhere.” They emphasize this with their students and staff throughout the year and work together collaboratively to achieve this every day in their classrooms, in their leadership across the school and in their competition in academic and athletic events.
What does RIDGE mean?
Fossil believes in Respect, Integrity, Determination, Gratitude and Excellence at Fossil Ridge High School. This belief applies to the classroom, the sports arena, academics and leadership. Their students know that together we are the strongest community of learners and RIDGE is how we operate to be the best school in the state
Lesson Plans
Fossil Ridge Lesson Plan (Personal Narrative Fresco)
Fossil Ridge Lesson Plan (Architecture in the Home)
At Fossil Ridge, I was teaching swapping between two different grade 9-12 classrooms. My class sizes were about 10-15 students in-person and 15-20 students online, in the hybrid model, so I was teaching both online and in-person succinctly. The students were very kind and excited to learn--I loved chatting with them and learning about them as people and hearing things about their lives. I had very few behavior issues thanks to the supportive differentiated learner program which really set up those students for success. As a Fossil Ridge alumni, I loved the opportunity to return to the school as an educator and see the other side of the educational experience. I was very close with the art team in high school, so it was a really interesting experience to join the team and experience the crazy amount of work that happens behind the scenes (which I had no idea about in high school). This close-knit team experience and personable experience with my students is a feeling I would like to carry with me into my first employment experience as a teacher. I truly enjoy the personal connections I am able to make with students at the high school level and the depth/detail they are able to create within their projects.
Mission Statement
The mission at Fossil Ridge High School is to ensure, that upon graduating from Fossil Ridge High School, each student will possess the character, skills, aptitude, and knowledge to successfully engage in every option they choose in work and in post-secondary education.
Fossil Ridge's goal is “Excellence, Everywhere.” They emphasize this with their students and staff throughout the year and work together collaboratively to achieve this every day in their classrooms, in their leadership across the school and in their competition in academic and athletic events.
What does RIDGE mean?
Fossil believes in Respect, Integrity, Determination, Gratitude and Excellence at Fossil Ridge High School. This belief applies to the classroom, the sports arena, academics and leadership. Their students know that together we are the strongest community of learners and RIDGE is how we operate to be the best school in the state
Lesson Plans
Fossil Ridge Lesson Plan (Personal Narrative Fresco)
Fossil Ridge Lesson Plan (Architecture in the Home)
Lessons Descriptions + Student Examples
Personal Narrative Fresco | Studio Art History
The following artworks were created by 9-12th grade students in a historically explorative course known as Studio Art History. Students learned about the development of a variety of artistic practices and cultural traditions all the way from Pre History up to the Renaissance.
"Personal Narrative Fresco" was a project completed during the Egyptian Unit after studying the cultural practice of decorating one's tomb with both fond memories from the deceased's life and memories they hope to create in their ideal afterlife. Students were tasked with mixing their own plaster which was poured into a styrofoam form to create their fresco tile. Students were allowed to use an image transfer process if necessary to add their memory to the fresco tile. Each artist was also tasked with creating their own hieroglyphic language to add a keyword(s) to elaborate upon what their imagery was or meant. Finally, students used watercolor paint, sharpie, and white gel pen to add color and detail to their fresco tile.
It is clear the pandemic really pushed the kids to think about what brings the most joy to their lives and how they would want to remember and honor those moments. In a time of great stress, loneliness and despair my students were able to find a bit of little joy in reminiscing on 'good times' during this project. Their final pieces bring some glimmering hope that life will be normal once again, friends will gather, families will reunite, and a great period of exploration and relief will ensue. COVID-19 has greatly impacted the mental and emotional state of my students. In difficult times where it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, it is important to remind them to be mindful and reflective, take care of themselves, and set aside time to do things that bring them joy.
Fossil Ridge Lesson Plan (Personal Narrative Fresco)
"Personal Narrative Fresco" was a project completed during the Egyptian Unit after studying the cultural practice of decorating one's tomb with both fond memories from the deceased's life and memories they hope to create in their ideal afterlife. Students were tasked with mixing their own plaster which was poured into a styrofoam form to create their fresco tile. Students were allowed to use an image transfer process if necessary to add their memory to the fresco tile. Each artist was also tasked with creating their own hieroglyphic language to add a keyword(s) to elaborate upon what their imagery was or meant. Finally, students used watercolor paint, sharpie, and white gel pen to add color and detail to their fresco tile.
It is clear the pandemic really pushed the kids to think about what brings the most joy to their lives and how they would want to remember and honor those moments. In a time of great stress, loneliness and despair my students were able to find a bit of little joy in reminiscing on 'good times' during this project. Their final pieces bring some glimmering hope that life will be normal once again, friends will gather, families will reunite, and a great period of exploration and relief will ensue. COVID-19 has greatly impacted the mental and emotional state of my students. In difficult times where it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, it is important to remind them to be mindful and reflective, take care of themselves, and set aside time to do things that bring them joy.
Fossil Ridge Lesson Plan (Personal Narrative Fresco)
Architecture in the Home | Studio Art History
The following artworks were created by 9-12th grade students in a historically explorative course known as Studio Art History. Students learned about the development of a variety of artistic practices and cultural traditions all the way from Pre History up to the Renaissance.
"Architecture in the Home" was a project introduced within the Greek Unit. Upon exploring a variety of pieces from Greek antiquity and architectural masterpieces, students were tasked with finding various locations in their own home where they could install a piece of the same style. Students thought about how a caryatid, pediment, or frieze might fit within the space. In order to make the project personal and pertinent to the student, each artist identified a memory from their upbringing which greatly influenced how they developed and lived thereafter. Each piece tells a unique story, often going beyond the characters into a deeper narrative about their identity and core values. Students were able to choose the format (caryatid, pediment, or frieze) and medium for their piece. The results were across the board including a variety of mediums: charcoal, pencil, prismacolor colored pencil, marker, ink, watercolor, and digital art.
Fossil Ridge Lesson Plan (Architecture in the Home)
"Architecture in the Home" was a project introduced within the Greek Unit. Upon exploring a variety of pieces from Greek antiquity and architectural masterpieces, students were tasked with finding various locations in their own home where they could install a piece of the same style. Students thought about how a caryatid, pediment, or frieze might fit within the space. In order to make the project personal and pertinent to the student, each artist identified a memory from their upbringing which greatly influenced how they developed and lived thereafter. Each piece tells a unique story, often going beyond the characters into a deeper narrative about their identity and core values. Students were able to choose the format (caryatid, pediment, or frieze) and medium for their piece. The results were across the board including a variety of mediums: charcoal, pencil, prismacolor colored pencil, marker, ink, watercolor, and digital art.
Fossil Ridge Lesson Plan (Architecture in the Home)