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  • Banner with colorful artwork promoting an art shop featuring kindness coloring pages, artist activities, and resources for teachers.

3rd/4th grade Non-objective drawings

A chaotic abstract pencil drawing featuring swirls, shapes, and various irregular forms on a white background, embodying the spontaneity of non-objective drawings.

The students learned how to identify realistic, abstract and non-objective art.  The 3/4s worked on a non-objective graphite drawing.  Using only shapes, lines, texture and value the students drew an interesting non-objective design.  Non-objective art is art that has no recognizable objects.  Value in art is the degree of lightness or darkness.  The students completed a value scale using pencil.  They learned how to create contrast by placing dark shades next to light shades, rough texture next to smooth texture … Read more…

Radial Pattern Design

Black and white circular geometric pattern with intricate triangular and diamond shapes forming concentric circles, creating a stunning radial pattern design.

  These were made by 3rd graders.  We learned about radial balance and patterns.  To make a radial design, use a compass to draw 5-6 circles around a center point.  Draw shapes and patterns around the rings.  Color in some of the shapes solidly with black markers.  Color can be added or just small black lines and patterns. 

3rd Grade Self Portraits

3rd Grade child's artwork of a person with glasses and raised hands, set against a colorful abstract background.

This was a lesson that I found in a magazine.. either School Arts or Arts and Activities.  This is a several step project. Day one:  Paint squares of colors using watercolor paints on a piece of 12 x18 paper.  Finish during this period. Day Two:  Cut out tissue paper squares and glue on top of your painted paper. Day Three: Use construction paper and cut out a shirt shape.  Add patterns and designs with Crayola Gel FX markers.  Glue to … Read more…

Water bottle Flowers

Vibrant flowers crafted from painted water bottles, arranged closely together.

At the very end of last year, my third grade students cut apart plastic water bottles to make these flowers.  I started them off by cutting the bottom of the bottle off, then they continued with scissors.  You can round off the edges to make the petals look more realistic.  Then, these were painted with acrylic paint.  I hot glued these down to a large white piece of foam board.  Some kindergarten students also made little round lumps of model … Read more…

Weaving Camp Part 6

Woven fabric with colorful strips and blue floral patterns on a burlap background, showcasing intricate weaving techniques.

3rd graders’ burlap weaving with feathers Burlap weaving made by 4 year old Weaving on BurlapWeaving camp has been over for a couple of months now and I’m finally getting around to updating the last of the lessons I taught for the camp.  Just a refresher, the weaving camp was for kids going into kindergarten to about 3rd grade.  Each day focused on a different type of weaving and kids could sign up for one day or all of the … Read more…

Clay Camp for Kids– Week Three– Birds in a Nest

A clay sculpture of birds in a nest perched on the edge of a small clay bowl with a flat background.

Here are some of the things we have been working on during clay camp for kids. The kids are going into kindergarten-6th grade. Week 3 I taught the little ones (entering K-3) how to make pinch pots for birds’ nests and then how to form a bird. All of our projects will be painted next week. This is a good project for learning how to make pinch pots. First make a pinch pot with a couple of eggs in it. … Read more…

Weaving Wonders Camp Part 5

A child in a purple dress is holding several straws and some string in their right hand, creating wonders inspired by camp activities like weaving.

Weaving on Straws Here is a really fun and addicting way to weave… on plastic drinking straws!  There’s no reason to re-write all the directions out, so here is a link to how to weave on straws.   If you get stuck, there are plenty of websites with full directions and even videos… simply google “weaving on straws.”  With this project, I set up the straws ahead of time for the kids.  (There were only about 6 or 7 kids … Read more…

Clay Camp for Kids– Week Two

Handmade white clay sculpture resembling a wide-mouthed creature with ears and small appendages, crafted during Week Two of Clay Camp for Kids, on a wooden surface.

We are having a great time at the summer Clay Camp for kids that I taught in DeForest, WI.  The second week we made clay monsters.  To make a monster, first, start by making a pinch pot.  See this website for a demo of pinch pots if you are not sure how.  Next, gently squish the pinch pot so it is slightly flattened.  Turn the pinch pot on its side and add teeth, eyes, legs, feet, horns, ears, nose, tongue … Read more…

Weaving Wonders Part 3

A child uses colorful paper strips to create a woven pattern on a table, showcasing the magic of Weaving Wonders.

Paper Weaving.  One of the projects I did with the kids for my Weaving Wonders Camp was Paper Weaving.  Paper weaving is, of course, one of the first and most basic types of weaving.  Kids in kindergarten, first or second grade will often complete paper weavings as introduction to weaving.  Preparation:   Gather fancy scrapbook paper, with patterns, bright colors and maybe even glitter.  Add some solid colors if you wish.  Cut strips on a paper cutter, approximately 1/2-1 inch … Read more…

Clay Camp for Kids- Week One

Handmade pottery bowl resembling a large leaf, with intricate veins and edges, created during a Kids Clay Camp, resting on a wooden surface.

This summer I have also been teaching a clay class for kids through the DeForest parks and recreation dept. It is only 6 sessions, one hour each session. I have 2 groups of kids: K-3, then 4-7 (roughly, there are some overlaps). Some of the weeks I am teaching the same projects and other weeks we are doing different projects. The first week we made leaf dishes. They are very simple and a good way to teach about rolling slabs. … Read more…

Weaving Wonders Camp Part 2

The Weaving Wonders Camp presents a colorful woven yarn and feather craft with a red spiral center on a circular base, displayed on a wooden surface.

Circular Weaving is another one of my favorite ways to teach weaving. We did these circular weavings at my Weaving Wonders camp. Beesybee Fiber’s has an explanation as to how it’s done. Obviously, this link shows a very advanced form of this weaving. What we did was to take these mini-pizza cardboard circles and cut an uneven number of slits in them. Then we set up the loom by poking the yarn through the center and then each attach to … Read more…

Weaving Wonders Camp

A woven grid of colorful feathers and yarn strings displayed on a flat surface, showcasing the wonders of intricate weaving techniques.

Styrofoam Weaving   At the beginning of this summer, I taught a “Weaving Wonders” camp at my school. Kids entering grades K-4 could sign up. The camp took place from 10-12:30 each day. A different weaving technique was taught each day. Campers could sign up for any of the days or the entire week. Weaving on Styrofoam was one of the projects. A restaurant supply store near our school had a huge package of styrofoam plates for very cheap. Slits … Read more…

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