Facing January

January - named for Janus (Ianuarius), god of the doorway, has its roots in Roman mythology. Coming from the latin word for door (ianua), January is the door to the year.

Janus is depicted with two faces: one looking into the past, one looking into the future. And this image was the basis for our first art project this year: Two Faces/Two Perspectives - a project done individually and in pairs.

Each student was given a sheet of paper and asked to fold it in half width-wise. Next they were asked to draw, in pencil, a profile of a face, beginning from the fold. The face was to depict their idea of Janus looking towards the past.

Next, the students were asked to exchange their paper with the person they were sitting next to. Each student then had the opportunity to draw Janus' profile, looking towards the future - but on the flip side of their neighbor's paper.

Back and forth the papers went, with detail added each time with different colored utensils, until finally, there was a completed picture - of the two-faced Janus (in various forms and details).

The project was not only an exercise in creativity and a connection to history/mythology, but one of flexibility and O.T.O. Upon completing the project some students expressed how much more effort they put into their work because they knew they had to step up to the plate for the person they were working with.

Yesterday's post promised information about our Extra Mile/Putting Your Best Foot Forward Clubs (beginning next week). I will post this tomorrow as I ran out of time to give the students the information on it today.

Cheers,
Ms. Pitman