This week the 1st graders started making printed pictures of faces. 1. Cut strips of cardboard in varying widths.2. Place small paper plates with black paint on tables. Give each child a piece of paper. Demonstrate how you can dip the edges of the cardboard in paint and print lines. Next week, we will add color with crayons and markers. I also have a box of alphabet rubberstamps which they will use to add text to their pictures if they … Read more…
We learned about the artist Georges Seurat by reading Scholastic Art magazine. Students identified and described Pointillist paintings. They created a Pointillist painting of trees showing dimension and form by color mixing. Step 1: Introduce the work of Georges Seurat.Step 2: Choose a smaller sized piece of paper. We used 9 x 12″. Lightly sketch a landscape with pencil. Step 3: Using a paintbrush, Q-tip or pencil eraser, dip the end into paint and dab dots of color on your picture. … Read more…
Here is an easy, no-sew snowman that my after school art class is going to make. I’m so excited to try it with the kids and of course I will post pictures to show you their results. 1. Gather supplies: rubberband, fabric scissors, white tube sock, colorful infant sock, stuffing, rice, buttons, felt and ribbon. 2. Cut off the top of the tube sock. Experiment to see what works best for you. 3. Drop a large handful of dry … Read more…
In Art class, the 1st graders looked at Claude Monet’s artwork, especially his paintings of ponds. Using a variety of painting techniques the 1st graders painted a pond with watercolors. Frogs were drawn with crayons and markers. Lilypads were added with construction paper and tissue paper. The children were studying frogs and toads in their Science class and read about them in LA/SS/D.
Our 5/6 class is going to host a Madrigal Dinner, complete with musical acts. The music teacher asked us to make decorations for the dinner. The kids each made their own Coat of Arms. We read a little bit about the significance of Coat of Arms and the symbols used. The children then drew their own Coat of Arms with symbols and designs that represented themselves and their family. Then, we assembled them all on to long banners of blue … Read more…
Here is a bulletin board of some of our finished abstract trees… aren’t they beautiful?!
We are starting to make rattles like the Native American rattles. Here are the steps so far: Tape a wooden paint stirrer to a small paper plate. Place beans, rice, dry noodles on the plate. Put another paper plate on top and tape shut! Our next step will be to add paper mache on top and paint symbols on the rattle. We will also add feathers and yarn to the handle. I divided the kindergartners in 2 groups so that … Read more…
Inspiration Avenue’s theme this week is needlework, so I thought I would show you some of the things I have done that goes with this theme. I have taught some needlework projects as well with my elementary students. Finger weaving with children Weaving on straws with children This was one of my 5th grade students sewn works– based on micro organisms Sewn picture on a journal page (mine) Sewn Mixed Media collage (by me) Knitted Ornament Ball by Me Fabric … Read more…
Do you have an online business? Are you conducting an online workshop and need more participants? Do you sell your art on Etsy? I decided I would like to accept sponsorships for my blog. I would be happy to promote your website with a simple image link on the side of my blog. I will also include a monthly spotlight section in a blog post where I will highlight you and your website. I would especially be interested in … Read more…
Fourth and Fifth Grade The 4/5s drew trees to complement their studies in Science class. How can line be used creatively to make a stylized picture? How can oil pastels be used effectively? The students aimed to use line creatively and made stylized art. A focus of the lesson was color mixing, blending and layering of the oil pastel. 1. Show images of Piet Mondrian’s abstract trees. Discuss how he started out with realistic trees, then they became more and … Read more…
Here is an easy project for first graders to introduce complementary colors. We started off by coloring a mini-color wheel (did not include the tertiary colors). Then, we identified the complementary colors on the color wheel. Next, the children were called up to pick out two sheets of paper that were complementary colors. I monitored to make sure that these were indeed complementary colors. Next, the children cut out different types of shapes from the papers and glued them to … Read more…
Mobiles, by 7th and 8th gradersI wanted to share with you some of the mobiles that the middle school kids are doing at my school. I share a room with another art teacher, and I see all the projects they create. This is a really awesome project! The kids are having a blast and they are learning all about balance, movement, three-dimensional art, and more. They each started with large wires and these sticks (which I didn’t know what they … Read more…
The focus on this project was learning about texture. The children used texture plates to create texture rubbings on the fur. On the inside of the teddy bear’s stomach, they drew a creative design. Then, they learned about patterns and read the book Lots and Lots of Zebra Stripes. The border was decorated with patterns. Yeah, they look like Care Bears, don’t they? Sooooooo cute!
We learned about Sumerian art. The students drew Sumerian statuettes and we also made some figures out of clay! These statuettes are characterized by large, staring eyes, clasped hands, cylindrical bodies, expressionless faces and bodies devoid of gender differentiation. They have religious and cultural meaning and we will investigate this in class.
