I have more good news to share about our super cute Fugleflick, Elementary Musical.
I had entered it into the NextVista.org online student video contest back in March and just learned today that it was chosen as a finalist! (This is only the second Fugleflick ever to be chosen as a finalist in their contests. Our first one was Careers in Art-Student Video of the Year 2011.) There are three strands they will select winners from.

Teacher Strand:
Two Color Reduction Prints: http://www.nextvista.org/two-color-reduction-prints/
Plate Tectonics: http://www.nextvista.org/plate-tectonics_examples/
How to Determine Density: http://www.nextvista.org/how-to-determine-density/

Student Strand:
Nazca Lines: http://www.nextvista.org/nazca-lines/
How Glowsticks Work: http://www.nextvista.org/how-glowsticks-work/
Movie Tips and Tricks: http://www.nextvista.org/movie-tips-and-tricks/
Greek Culture Rap: http://www.nextvista.org/greek-culture-rap/

Collaboration Strand:
(note that two are on the same topic)
States of Matter: http://www.nextvista.org/states-of-matter/
What Is Matter?: http://www.nextvista.org/what-is-matter/
Elementary Musical: Art Is Not Accidental: http://www.nextvista.org/elementary-musical-art-is-not-accidental/
How To Fail a Speech: http://www.nextvista.org/how-to-fail-a-speech/

A group of several dozen teachers from around the world are currently reviewing the videos and casting their votes.  Sometime on Friday, April 20th, they will post the winners of the contest, so keep an eye out for that announcement.
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The Elements of Art need to come together when an artist thinks about a compositional design. This intentional and thoughtful process inspired my students to sing and dance 
(of course).
Watch their super cute original music video below:
This movie may be short, but we invested 20 lunch recesses into making this happen.
Take a look at the behind the scenes video below or use this link.
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This entertaining short video tells my students exactly what my expectations are as they enter the art room. But here is what makes it so great...the kids tell are telling (while singing and dancing) the rest of my student population what to do. Hopefully they listen!
Making a movie is an amazing opportunity for learning. Students sang, recorded, storyboarded, planned, framed shots, rehearsed, coached, filmed, imported, edited, all while making collaborative decisions. Take a look at our in progress website to sing-a-long with the karaoke version and lyrics.
****UPDATE**** Now you can watch the Behind the Scenes Video below and see for yourself how fun creating can be!
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I knew I had to buy the ThinkGeek Soundtrack T-Shirt when I saw it and have the kids record an art room theme song for it to broadcast every time a group enters.
The idea evolved a bit and now the theme song will be made into a video too with the help of a group of 5th graders. We're starting next week, but my demo track is already programed into our new friend the ARTGeek. Take a look at the secret project page where you can learn to sing our Theme Song too! 
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Picture
He may be missing, but our sloppy friend is still on the minds of Dryden students as well as students from around the country.  Every time I say to my students, I have some news for you, they immediately shout out, "You found him?!? You found Sloppy Brush???" 
I just received a message from art teacher, Mrs. Chabra of New Jersey. Her students apparently feel the same way. She sent me this picture from her third grade student.
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Drawn by 3rd grader in New Jersey
IF you don't know the story of Sloppy Brush and his adventure, let me try to sum it up quickly... Sloppy Brush starred in an amazing Fugleflick in 2006. It won all kinds of awards and screened at film festivals all over the world, even at the Sydney Opera House!
The movie taught students to take care of their Paint Brushes. In 2009 Sloppy (the actual brush actor from the movie) packed his bags and began what was to be a year long adventure across the country to visit art rooms on his Brush With Fame tour. He brought his DVD, passport, and himself (the most important part). Students watched his travels on his very own wiki: http://youngsloppybrush.wikispaces.com/ . But something went TRAGICALLY WRONG! He disappeared sometime around January 2010. We haven't been able to track him down since. We have these photos, this map of his journey, and this beautiful poster to remember him. But that doesn't fill the void. We even made a MIA video to help bring us some closure. But the truth of this is, there is no closure until we have him back. 
Some students have said we should make another sloppy brush to replace him. But, that is EXACTLY what sloppy brush was trying to prevent. The best way to honor the memory of our friend is to keep all your brushes nice, clean, and neat. 
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