Hamilton High School students and Lannon Elementary School first graders take part in an annual collaborative art project that brings the school district together and celebrates artists of all ages. Scranimals are on display at the Pauline Haass Public Library through March 31 in celebration of Youth Art Month.
Early in the 2024-25 school year, first grade students were given the opportunity to dream up a silly ‘scranimal’ which is the combination of an animal and an object such as a unicorn and a turnip or a dog and a donut. Advanced Ceramics students at Hamilton High School then sculpt and paint the scranimal to match the first grader’s fictional creation.
Hamilton High School junior Brooklynn Ulrich appreciates that the scranimal project encourages artists of all ages and skill levels to come together as a community. “It feels so wonderful to cherish the younger artists, who are most likely to be discouraged from a growing passion. Being appreciated by another artist is a sign you’re doing great,” she adds. “Knowing how it feels to be the little kid always covered in marker ink, opportunities like this build so much confidence in younger artists too. Small chances to encourage art for all ages make all the difference for some people.”
“I think it is important for students to collaborate at any level,” explains Hamilton High School Art Teacher Bri Strelow. “This is especially fun for the high schoolers to get a little blast from the past about what art looks like at that really young age and see how far they have come.”
“I loved seeing all of the children’s creations,” said Hamilton High School junior Kris Behling who has a special message for the first grade artists who drew the pictures. “I hope you learned that art can be made by yourself, but it can also be very fun and eye-opening to collaborate with other artists. I hope you never stop making and enjoying art!”
Lannon Elementary School Art Teacher Amy Chandler’s students spent a lot of time brainstorming and sketching ideas to see what would work best for the high school artists. “The Lannon first graders were so excited to design scranimals for the high school students! They would ask me everyday if the high school artists picked their design and when they could see them,” said Chandler. “When we read the book Scranimals by Jack Prelutsky, the first grade students had so many ideas about what objects and animals they could combine together. First grade had just finished their clay unit so they thought about how the high school students would need a good design to help them be successful. This project is a really great way for the elementary kids to feel connected to the older students.”
Hamilton High School junior Nex Kramer says she enjoyed the project. “I kept thinking about how excited I would have been being a kid, and having a highschooler make my drawing that I worked so hard on!” Kramer said. “The arts are so important for kids and adults alike. It helps provide such a break from the world outside of what you’re doing and I really hope that even if these kids don’t continue to take art classes in the future, that they continue to do something creative,” she adds.
This is the third year of the collaborative project. Woodside and Maple Avenue Elementary School students previously took part in the project. Strelow plans to rotate through the Hamilton School District’s four elementary schools and switch the drawing prompts for the first graders each year. First graders get to keep the sculptures at the conclusion of the school year.