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Category Archives: third grade

Native American Pottery, 3rd/4th grade

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Black and white image of a circular shield adorned with geometric symbols and icons, including stars and crosses.

Native American Potttery:The 3/4s are learning about Native American pottery, in particular the Mimbres bowls.  Check out the link for more information.  They made their own coil-built pot and used sgraffito techniques to design the inside of the bowl. We used Mayco Stroke and Coat Underglaze and then painted Amaco clear glaze on top.  I love the brilliant colors.  I would never have tried this because it’s more expensive than others, but my colleague WON a whole box of this … Read more… →

African Korhogo Cloths

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A colorful child's painting of a bird with a purple head and blue body, framed by a yellow and orange patterned border inspired by African cloths.

The Intermediates (grade 3) are studying Africa in their Social Studies class.  We learned about the African Korhogo Clothes.  See this link for more details. This project focused on how symbols are used in African art.  The students designed their own painted Korhogo cloth on muslin.  They decorated the border with symbols and drew their main figure with Sharpie.  Then, they added paint with watercolor.

Dreamcatcher Ornament

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A colorful craft with yarn, feathers, beads, and fabric intertwined in a creative pattern, resembling a dreamcatcher.

The Governor’s Mansion in Madison sent us a call for ornaments made by 4th graders based on a book.  These ornaments will be hung on a large Christmas tree in the mansion.  Only one per classroom could be submitted.  As a group, several of the students made this dream catcher.  The 3/4s read the book Time of the Eagle, by Stephanie Golightly Lowden and made a creative dream catcher to represent the book.  It is a great tie-in to their … Read more… →

3rd/4th grade Non-objective drawings

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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 4

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Child holding up a colorful striped knitted piece with purple, black, and blue sections, showcasing their needlework inspiration.

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… →

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