Bransford Elementary fifth graders were wowed on Friday, February 20, when Grapevine High School art students delivered three-dimensional clay monsters—especially since the creatures began as sketches the younger students had created just weeks earlier.
“I just thought it would be awesome to collaborate with students I previously taught,” said GHS art teacher Hannah Chang, who taught at Bransford two years ago. “For my current students it is a way to connect their community.”
Partnering with Bransford art teacher Kevyn McQuade, the project began with fifth graders sketching their monster, naming it and adding personality traits—blending art, writing and critical thinking skills.
The drawings were then handed off to the high school art students tasked with bringing the designs to life from kiln-fired clay, all while reinforcing Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for art.
“It’s supposed to be a sports monster,” fifth grader Braxton Roorda said as he carefully painted ‘Billy,’ a character with the body of a football and a baseball for a hand.
A few tables over, GHS senior Lucia Bisboccia was collaborating with fifth grader Margot Davis, who was thrilled with the result.
“It looked exactly like what I drew,” Davis exclaimed.
But monster ‘McKenzie’ almost had one additional feature.
Bisbocci explained that, according to Davis’ description, “McKenzie likes to eat apples with ketchup on top. I was originally going to add a ketchup packet, but I didn’t want to add too much that wasn’t on the drawing.”
Instead, Bisbocci incorporated a ketchup packet to the cardboard backdrop, one of the creative sets every high school student designed to accompany the monsters. The added environments were a pleasant surprise for their young clients.
Bisbocci said the experience was more than an art project. An aspiring engineer, Bisbocci saw a clear connection between the project and her future career.
“I think it definitely taught me to take risks, but also be mindful of guidelines, especially when collaborating with colleagues or clients.”
She also hopes this project inspires the younger students.
“It creates a pathway and maybe they will want to take art in high school. I would have taken ceramics sooner if I knew this was something I could do. I got to use my creativity and this was an enjoyable experience to work on something for someone else.”
