Value Space Station

I was trying to come up with a interesting and fun away to teach value and 3-D shapes. Students first practiced their value scale and practice their cubes, spheres, pyramids, and cylinders. Then they were told to create a space station using at least 3 3-D Shapes and be as creative as they could.

The Snowy Day

We have had so many snow days this year what a better way to link into literature that with The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. As I read students the book, we talked about what our favorite snow day activity was. Students created with collages using simple shapes and used gadget printing for their snowflakes. After their pieces were created they then wrote a sentence or two describing their snow day.

Wire Calder Portraits

In our unit on Line, I introduce Alexander Calder's wire sculptures. First we did a few continuous line portraits in pen to get the idea. Then we used our best one as a sketch for out wire sculpture.

Sign it!

In talking about line we eventually get to contour line. One of the basic and hardest things for students to draw is their own hand!I decide to throw a little bit about disabilities and sign language in this lesson and had the students learn how to sign their names using the ASL alphabet.

Dream Playgrounds

Studnets love this lesson! After our unit on line, we take what we know on drawing different types of lines and make it 3-D. Students learn basic paper scultpure techniques while letting thier imaginations run wild. These are some of the simpler ones.

Under the Sea

Students about the art element of texture and words to describe texture. They then created wax resist texture paintings. After we read My Visit to the Aquarium by Aliki, Students then started leaning about free form or organic shapes by looking sea creatures, especially octopi.

Winter Blues

It's winter and its cold. This lesson helps students understand that colors can have feeling. We talked about the warm and cool colors and how they made us feel. Students then learned about monocromatic (meaning one) color. Using this knowledge, students created a multimedia collage with different tints and shades of blue.

Shape Quilt

To begin learning about all the exciting things shapes can do, students used geometric shapes and layering to create a “shape quilt”. Students first used rectangles to create their quilt then cut geometric shapes to create their design. They had to layer at least 2 shapes on top of each other to show an understanding of overlapping and layering.

Lines, Lines, Lines

To start our unit on the art element of Line, students created a simple line design using all the different lines that they knew.

Eric Carle Collage

In this lesson, students studied the artwork of the famous author/illustrator Eric Carle. Students mimicked his technique by creating colorful paper using no traditional painting techniques. After several sketches, students created an animal collage using their painted paper. As an extension students also created a background or environment for their animal.

Blind Contour Drawing

To start a unit on observation drawing, students started with a warm up activity of doing blind contours of thier friends. They really enjoyed it and had a lot of fun. The best part was watching me do it and how off my my blind contour was. It got a good laugh but it was a good lesson in how blind contours are really blind and aren't suppose to be perfect!

Painting with Teddy

Breaking down objects into simple shapes is one of the best ways to learn to draw. Here first graders learned how to first draw a teddy bear using circles, ovals and rectangles. The following class they got to decorate their bear like they were at "Build a Bear" Workshop.

Outter Space Collage

Students continue using their knowledge of line to create wonderful, fanciful planets for an outter space collage. The most exciting part of the project through seems to be the splatter painting for the stars.

Mondrain's Composition

First graders got their first look at Mondrain's Composition paintings when studying the art element of line. They then created their own using horizontal and vertical lines to create "windows" for their primary colors.

Starry Starry Night

Vincent Van Gogh is one of my favorite painters so its no wonder that I make my student create their own inspired Starry Night piece. Students read a short biography on Van Gogh then we talked about his unique style and how it was evolved from Impressionism and Pointallism. Students then set to work. Using dashes and swirls, we talked about using quick little strokes using oil pastels on dark blue contruction paper. I have to say the students love this projects and I love the results.

Texture Shape Collage

Kindergartens loved learning about texture and the way things feel. As an introductory lesson, I have them explore my texture boxes. These are boxes that have different textured objects hidden inside. After our review of texture words(smooth, bumpy, hard, soft, etc) we describe what we left in the box. After every box has been described, I reveal what was inside. From here they then create texture rubbings using oil pastels and waterolors. After our wax-resist texture paintings are dry students practice their cutting skills. Student then create a collage using these textured shapes.

Primary Patterns

In this project, students used geometric shaped sponges to create a sponge print using their knowledge of patter and primary colors. They then created a picture frame or boarder using construction paper squares using pattern.

Primary Line Design

Students look at the work Of Wallisky Kandinsky as an inspiration for their line designs. First the had a review of differnet types of lines. Then in a directed lesson painting black lines on thier paper. The next step was students used the primary olors and found shapes within their line paintings.

Lines, Lines, Lines

The first art element we look at and study each year is the element of Line. Here students create a line quilt using all the different types of line that they know.

Wall Tile Installation

This tile istallation was created in conjunction with the school's end of the year "School Spirit Day". Tiles were designed and created by each classroom and classroom teacher with me as a coordinator and collaborator.

Annual All-District Art Show, 2010

The annual all-ditrict art show showcases 3 elementary school, middle and high schools during  2 week show. Event begins with an opening evening reception with live music and refreshments. It is a wonderful way to celebrate student's artistic achievements and bring the whole district together.