Dear Parents,

The Grade 5 students are currently working on their lino printing plates inspired by their research on a chosen area of personal adornments. This is part of the 'I Believe' Unit.

As you may have seen, the students have come home with their lino pieces, cutting tools and sketchbooks. The students have been taught how to use the tools safely (how to hold the tools, where to put their hands/fingers, which blades to use etc). They all know which parts they will be cutting too.
The tools are sharp but if the students are using them as they have been taught to do, they cannot cut themselves; however, inevitably there may be one or two minor accidents.

I have said to the students that they must show you the tools and only use them when there is an adult around. We have also talked about making sure that they put them away after use in the sealed ziploc bag. I asked them if they could then put them in another ziploc (if you could spare one) just to make sure they are sealed properly. We also talked about the importance of putting the tools away after use because of younger siblings and pets.

Grade 5 students, this what you need to do for homework:
1. You will need to warm the lino up to soften it (quite regularly!)
2. Always make sure that you cut on top of the back inside cover of your sketchbooks. This will protect the surface on which you are cutting!
3. Remember, the tool should be held under the hand (like a knife and fork would be) not like a pencil
4. Some students will need to finish cutting around the image (the outside edge of it - outline) For this you will need blade #5. This is the only blade, which cuts towards you and you need to stand up to use.
5. Then you will need to use blade #1 to go around the cut you have made. Remember, you cut away from you with this one and all the others.
6. Students working on the background: You will need blade # 4 or #5 to cut away the background. Don't forget to always cut from the image towards the edge of the lino.
7. Please remember to watch your fingers (and not the television!)

Oscar had a great idea! He suggested that maybe you could do 15 minutes each day so you could give your hands a rest and it would be a break from other things! It is up to you how you organize your time. Ideally, it would be great if you were able to cut away all the background but I'm not expecting you to spend hours!! I would expect that over the next few days, that you would spend at least an hour on your cutting. I know that some of you will spend more!! You are doing very well with this so far, it is not easy.

REMINDER: FINGERS!!

Please remember to bring your lino and tools into school on Monday 1 February. You are sharing tools with a partner from 5SM so please make sure your don't forget!
Parents, please could you remind your children about the date too.

Parents or students, please feel free to email me if you have any questions.
Good luck! I can't wait to see your lino next week.
Rachel


Rachel Bignell
Specialist Team Leader
Visual Art - Primary/Middle/High School
Hong Kong Academy
4/F Chung On Hall
15 Stubbs Road
Hong Kong SAR
Telephone: (00 852) 25758282

Bryn looks at different adornment photos

Well done to Alice and Ellen who have already added all this information to their stixy site.