Model Magic "Colorpillars"

First graders created these adorable "colorpillars" for their color mixing lesson in October. It worked pretty well, but in the future I think I will do this lesson either later in the year with first grade or with second graders- the directions got a little overwhelming for some of them.
Here's how we made them:
1. Give students 1/6 of a packet of red, yellow, and blue model magic (a little larger than a grape) Give each student a small color wheel to organize their balls of color.
2. Break each ball of model magic into four pieces.
3. Roll three of these pieces into balls and place in the primary color position.
4. Mix primary colors and place on the color wheel.
5. Working around the color wheel step by step together, mix remaining pieces into the intermediate colors.
6. Take the balls off the color wheel and make a line.
7. Press the pieces together firmly and into bend into a caterpillar shape. Glue onto mat board.
8. Use a piece of Twistees for the antennae.

Form: Model Magic Birds

This lesson is a good example of thinking about what you need to teach, how long you can spend on the lesson, and what supplies you have on hand! I needed a quick lesson on form for kindergarten so we whipped these silly little birds up. Before we sat down, we talked about shapes(2D) vs. forms(3D). We looked at some images to help with recognizing and naming different shapes & forms. While I passed out the model magic, students were challenged to make different forms as soon as they got thiers- cubes, cones, cylinders & spheres. Once all students had their model magic, we practiced our clay vocabulary and rolled a coil. Then, we used a little washable marker to create the swirled colors on the body of the bird. Twistees make the legs, pipe cleaners for the neck and head, and colorful feathers, well, for the feathers. Little hot glue and we were good to go. Kindergartners LOVED these little guys.

 

Mixed Media Snowy Owl

First and second graders made these cute snowy owls before winter break. We were learning about neutral colors and I wanted something seasonal as well. I liked how they turned out, although if we make them again I'll have to think of how to get better contrast between the owl and the background... They were a pretty big hit though!

Thank You Card For City Hall

To thank City Hall for bringing us Box City (see previous post) second graders put together a fancy pop-up card. We had so much fun building our"Oakville" and genuinely appreciated their hard work making it happen.

Box City

The local city hall was kind enough to display one of our group sculptures last summer. Through that opportunity, we decided to work together this past school year to bring a really fun opportunity to our second grade students. Students in second grade were studying how cities changed over time. City Hall workers came during their social studies time and presented some photographs of how our city changed over time. They talked about city zoning and important buildings every city needs.With me in art class, students built milk carton houses. The next week, they worked in groups to create buildings every city needs. We all came together during second grade specials to build our city. It was a great opportunity- it was even featured in our local news!

Expressionist Chairs

This turned out to be one of my favorite projects all year. For this lesson, third grade was studying at the art movement of the Expressionism.
Day 1: We looked at some of Vincent van Gogh's paintings as an example of how Expressionists painted not only visible subject matter, but are also conveying emotion and or/moods when they paint. We zeroed in on the paintings of Vincent's and Gauguin's chairs by Vincent van Gogh. (read about and see the two paintings here: http://www.vggallery.com/painting/p_0498_0499.htm). We discussed the relationship of these two artists and discussed the emotions, personalities, and moods we observed as we compared and contrasted the two paintings. Students then decided and brainstormed what they (or someone they knew very well) would look like as a chair. They drew practice sketches.
Day 2: Complete brainstorm drawings and get right on to drawing on black construction paper with a white charcoal pencil (we traced a template for the seat of the chair to get started). Move on to oil pastels/chalk pastels if time permits.
Day 3: With oil pastels, trace and fill in the chair with expressive lines. Use oil pastels to fill in textures on the floor- keeping in mind that even the type of floor is part of the "expressing". Use chalk to fill in the walls- one light and one dark for contrast.

     

 

One Point Perspective Trees

It was past time to introduce my fourth graders to drawing in one-point perspective so we did these wonderful drawings in chalk.
Day 1: We used recycled paper- looks like a brown paper bag (I forget what its officially called) Very lightly in pencil, draw horizon line, vanishing point, lines of perspective & tree trunks (don't let them leeeeean!).
Day 2: Lightly start to add chalk in the sky & clouds, tree tops, trunks, ground between tree trunks, and finally road. Blend colors together and add lines for texture.

      

 LOVE how they turned out!! So impressed with my fourth graders!

Amedeo Modigliani Elongated Portraits

Second graders just recently completed their art history unit with this lesson on the painter, Amedeo Modigliani. For this lesson students studied how he was influenced by the Mannerists. We compared and contrasted some of his portraits with The Madonna of the Long Neck  by the Italian painter Parmigianino, 
This project took two 45 minute sessions. 

Day 1: Together we drew the portrait very lightly with pencil. We started by tracing a pattern and elongating the features.We reviewed complementary colors and used them to mix neutral skin tones. Then we mixed another neutral for the background. (Some classes mixed the background on day 2)

Day 2: Using self portrait mirrors, students traced pencil lines and added details for our self portrait with water soluble oil pastels. We used cups of water and paintbrushes to soften the lines of the pastels. I encouraged them to add layers. 
Great results! 

Abstract Expressionism & Mark Rothko

Fourth Graders explored Abstract Expressionism painting by studying the works of Mark Rothko. Ideas for this lesson came from the book Great American Artists for Kids by MaryAnn F. Kohl and Kim Solga. We used color bleeding tissue paper for the first part of lesson. The students decided on a mood or feeling for their painting and chose colors they believed would represent that. We let the tissue paper dry and saturate the paper. In part two of the lesson, students used water soluble oil pastels and water blend and add layers. I was able to let a couple of classes add more tissue paper layers with diluted glue too. I love the results of this lesson! It created a very powerful display.

Primary Caterpillars and Secondary Butterflies

Kindergartners learned about primary and secondary colors using liquid tempera paint. I also tied in Eric Carle's The Hungry Caterpillar and the life cycle of a butterfly.

Stained Glass Hearts

Stained Glass Hearts!

I just took the time to photograph these beautiful stained glass hearts that my second graders completed just in time for Valentine's Day last month. This is one of those projects I just can't get enough of- it's SO easy with incredibly gorgeous results. The materials couldn't be more simple- scraps from the laminater and permanent marker I learned this easy stained glass technique from my now retired mentor, Winifred Bonner.
Here's what we did:
Day 1:
1. I passed out photocopies of the large heart shape to each student. Students chose one shape from a selection of stencils and traced overlapping shapes to fill their heart.
2. Next, we taped a piece of laminating film (I put a box in the teacher workroom for to collect large scraps) over the design.

3. Students begin coloring in the shapes with colored sharpies- being careful to find the "new" shapes made from the overlapping.

Day 2:

1. Finish coloring the inside of the heart shape with colored sharpie.

2. Trace around all shapes with black sharpie.

3. Cut around heart shape.

I usually run the hearts through the laminater to so that I can get them displayed quickly and to protect the marker. The students have a blast making these and everyone at school always enjoys the result!

Hot Dogs & Cool Cats

LOVE this lesson!!! Kindergartners learn two new color families: warm & cool colors.The title of this lesson is as old as dirt but I put my own spin on the execution with one of my favorite techniques-- taking a wet paintbrush to watercolor markers. Easy to finish in one 45 minute class too!
Steps to create this lesson:
1. Introduce warm and cool color families.
2. Fold a 12"x18" piece of drawing paper in half. I usually have this ready before students come.
3. Draw eyes, nose, mouth, ears and whiskers at the top of the paper with a sharpie.
4. Draw paws and claws at the bottom of the paper with sharpie.
5. Add lots of lines (don't color) using warm colored washable markers for the "hot dog" and cool colored washable markers for the "cool cat". Fill up the whole dog and cat all the way down to the paws.
6. Pass out cups of water and paintbrushes and let students paint over thier marker lines- encourage them not to go overboard so they don't lose the TEXTURE!
That's it! Easy as pie! It doesn't get much cuter than this.

Hot Air Balloon Shape Collage

First graders just finished these colorful hot air balloon collages. We were learning about organic and geometric shapes. I love how they turned out!

Day1: We talked about organic or free-form shapes. Students tore paper to create organic shapes for thier collage; clouds, mountains, meadow, and other organic details. We reviewed parts of a landscape.

Day 2: We talked about geometric shapes. Students used stencils and scissors to add hot air ballons to the collage. We reviewed the art element of space and used size and overlapping to show that some balloons were closer to us in the artwork.

I have to say, I was very impressed with what the first graders came up with! So many creative details! Their expertise at showing near and far in this collage landscape blew me away!!