That proved to be an easy task for Monroe’s 2nd and 3rd grade art classes after
studying the work of 11 year old artist Olivia Bouler, whose painting of birds raised $130,000 for the Audubon Society to help birds affected by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
“The 2nd and 3rd grade artists decided to hold a benefit of their own to help the birds,” explained Hawk (pictured with Jacob Kunz), who assigned her students to draw birds selected from hundreds of bird flash cards donated by a parent.
Monroe Elementary students (from left) Avery Skaggs, Rowan Stripplehoff, Dani Williams and Sydnie Heskamp show off their bird friendly hats they made for the school’s Birds of a Feather art show that benefitted the Audubon Society.Their art work was featured in an art show that resulted in $115 in donations to the Audubon Society.
“Their drawings were so good, I was asked if they were traced,” said Hawk.
As good as the drawings were, the star of the Audubon benefit show was the bird friendly hats each student made.
“We read a book called ‘She's Wearing a Dead Bird on Her Head!’, which tells the story about the founders of the society who wanted to do something for the birds because back in the early 1900's thousands of birds were being killed and made into hats,” said Hawk.
“The 2nd and 3rd grade artists created their own "bird-friendly" hats by making feathers from hand painted paper they created (inspired by illustrator Eric Carle) and slogan signs with their own statement about speaking for the birds.”
The third grade students of Monroe Elementary teacher Cathy Singleton wear their bird friendly hats they made for the school’s Birds of a Feather art show that benefitted the Audubon Society.
The second grade students of Monroe Elementary teacher Staci Heiden wear their bird friendly hats they made for the school’s Birds of a Feather art show.
