Korean Brush Painting in Grade 3

On Friday, our third graders participated in a brush painting and calligraphy workshop led by two guest instructors from the Korea Society.

Lead instructor Mrs. Sungsook Setton, who is a South Korean immigrant and noted artist and calligrapher, first taught the boys about the Lunar New Year. Then, in honor of the Year of the Monkey, she led them in drawing a monkey and writing the word "monkey" in calligraphy, demonstrating the precise layered brush strokes that are a mark of Korean brush painting.

The boys did a remarkable job, learning a new art form that requires patience and concentration, and having a great time in the process. The boys' teachers report that the instructors were impressed with our boys' curiosity and attentiveness.

This workshop is done in tandem with our third grade history program, which focuses on cultures around the world.

Boys begin in the fall with an exploration of the immigrant experience of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They then examine primary sources to make observations and inferences about Korean culture. Finally, their study culminates in the spring when they work in teams on an independent study research project and presentation about a culture of their choice.

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