Third graders worked together to make an insect habitat on large butcher paper. They had been studying habitats in their Science class. We used Model Magic, beads, pipe cleaners and corrugated paper to make the insects and oil pastels to color them. The kids did a great job, but I’m not sure how I feel about Model Magic… we’ve been having a tough time getting the pieces to stay together. Some of the heads and body parts had to be … Read more…
Radial designs are so much fun to make!The third graders made these. Have done these before and the lesson plan directions are on previous posts. SEE THESE!
These 3rd grade self-portraits were charming and delightful. We spent two class periods mixing colors for the background. Each student experimented with combining colors to see what would happen. Then, we used construction paper to make the faces and markers to add details. I guided them step-by-step with tips for drawing and placing the features. The students used mirrors when drawing their features.
The 3rd/4th grade class used a grid format to design their sketchbook cover. I am loving using grids in my personal artwork. I am doing a series of grid mixed media paintings which you can see here, here and here, and oh yeah here too. To prepare for this lesson, I drew a 1 inch square grid on a piece of 8.5″ x 11″ piece of paper. Then, I photocopied it for the class. Here’s a trick.. if you cut … Read more…
All of my classes have been busy making sketchbook covers. Here are a few more assignments by grade level: 1st Grade Initials:I saw this idea at Art Projects for Kids. The background has crayon texture rubbings and watercolor paint. 3rd Grade: The students wrote their names in cursive and then surrounded the name with repeating colorful lines. 4th/5th Grade Names: They drew their names and then covered the negative space with patterns. Similar to this idea… Name Tangles. … Read more…
I never posted about these fabric collages that we finished at the end of the year last year. The third and fourth graders made these. We worked together to paint fabrics! We painted with acrylic paints on muslin fabric. We sprayed the fabric with water to allow the paint to spread more easily. We made graffiti fabrics! We had lots of painted fabrics at the end. We even painted over ugly patterned fabrics. Then, we chose our pieces and cut … Read more…
Our last summer art workshop was a fun one! We decoupaged tissue paper on to glass vases. The cylindrical ones could be candle holders. We tore and cut tissue paper and adhered them to the glasses with Matte Medium. I hate the smell of mod-podge, so I rarely use it. I get headaches from it, does anyone else? I figure if I get headaches from it, it probably is not good for the kids to inhale. This Blick Matte Medium … Read more…
I am teaching 3 summer art sessions. Each session is two hours long with one or two art projects. For this session, I had 2 students going into 4/5th grade, 2 students who just finished kindergarten, and one student going into kindergarten. It was a small class, which was perfect for this project, since the pictures were LARGE. To start, we traced our bodies on large butcher paper. Then, we outlined them with markers and used collage materials (magazine images, … Read more…
I told you I had a bunch of lesson plans that I have not shared with you yet. I have enough to take me through the whole summer! Here are some simple clay suns. We looked at some pictures of the Metapac clay suns.
We are out of school now for the summer, but I have some projects that I have not blogged about yet to share with you. I will update the blog throughout the summer with artsy thoughts, my summer activities, a couple art workshop updates and book reviews. The third graders made tessellations in art class! How fun. This is a great project to tie in with geometry and other math concepts. I knew there had to be some easy-to-follow tessellation … Read more…
We made Treasure Boxes at an after school art class that I taught this month. The students were in grades K-6 (about 12 kids). I picked up cigar boxes from a local shop and the kids were able to decorate them with the plethora of supplies I had. We used wall paper scraps, wrapping paper, magazines, stickers, scrapbook papers…. colored tape… Each kid could decorate the box however they wanted. I showed them pictures of Joseph Cornell‘s mysterious … Read more…
I love these monochromatic rhythm paintings! The lighting was weird when I took the pictures, so I’m not sure the colors are as vibrant as they really are. We talked about rhythm in art and how to create it by repetition. The students learned how to mix shades and tints of one color. Gold was added at the end for a final touch (so in the end, I allowed them to “cheat” on the monochromatic part, but the gold adds … Read more…
For this lesson, we learned about the artist Grant Wood and his painting “American Gothic.” The kids read a magazine article about this painting (It was from the 90’s and I think from the New Yorker). The students discussed what a parody is and saw many examples of parodies of this iconic painting. Then, the students drew their own version of the “American Gothic”. I highly recommend this series of books!
Cross-hatching is fun, but a difficult art technique (at least in my opinion). The third/fourth grade class picked out some animals from Zoobooks magazines and drew them in pencil. Then, we looked at Brian Selznick’s books for inspiration. Wonderstruck His novels are full of beautiful cross-hatched drawings, alternating with the chapters. Plus, the two books I have read by him are charming and wonderful stories. Read them! You’ll love them too, I guarantee it. They are listed below. I think … Read more…
Contour Drawings The students observed the details and lines on their shoes. They completed a contour line study of their footwear. Next, they turned these drawings into “miniature playgrounds” for stick people. Contour drawing helps define and explore edges through line and locates one object in relationship to another. It also establishes an expressive and accurate representation of the subject by the richness of the lines, thick or thin, crisp or soft, and the speed and rhythm with which they … Read more…
