K- LINE SCULPTURES: Inspired by Cassie Stephens, we learned about line & sculpture.
K- John James Audubon Bird Unit: Of course I was apprehensive about doing my first whole class hand painting session, but all the kids started the lesson learning about the artist and then watching how I drew and colored the branches. While they were doing that, I called the students up one table at a time to paint hands, stamp them on the paper and then wash hands in the sink. It was no easy feat, but it did work out quite well. Props to those elementary teacher who do hand projects more often than I.
K- Butterflies: Toilet paper roll butterflies. After discussing all the stages of butterflies and reading a book (oh yea...and meeting "Cali" my pet caterpillar!), we started to construct our own butterflies using hearts!
K- Secondary Color Turtles: Experimenting with secondary colors!
K- Jellyfish: Our jellyfish legs have special stinging power when you add our straws! (great manipulative)
K- Color Wheel:
K- The Tree Project:
K- Digital Art Gingerbread Houses: ABCya.com
K- The Mitten: Discovering Cool Colors & Watercolor Painting. This project was inspired by the book, "The Mitten".
1- Henri Rousseau Manipulated Line Jungles & Rainbow Line Paintings: (line sculptures inspired by Cassie Stephens) . First we created our line sculptures and then took it a step further by introducing Henri Rousseau and his painting The Jungle in which we then converted our line sculptures into colorful jungles with tigers and all! After we discussed more types of lines through painting. When our lines were dry, we discussed the colors of the rainbow (roygbiv) and painted a rainbow over/between our lines during the next class. The kids loved this whole unit!
1- Dot Day Snails: In September, we celebrated International Dot day, which encourages children to try something new and make their their mark on the world. Below are our first grader's results.
1- Rainbow Lines & Rabbits: These kids make my day. They are so stinkin' cute and creative... each one of them added their own touch to their rabbit! First we worked at different tables to mix the secondary colors. We then had six colors (primaries and secondaries)- one color at each table. They got so excited when we did the 5 second countdown until we switched colors... so silly. The next week we did the rabbits. They followed my rabbit drawing step by step and they all came out different, but what I loved is the originality and their ability to try and copy what they saw me draw.
1- Snakes in the Grass: Weaving with snakes. Just a few pointers if you are going to copy this project. Day one, just paint. Day two, cut out grass and paperclip snakes to the grass after they have been traced and cutout. Day three, color and weave the snakes. You need to draw a line on the back ( I did red= stop!) for all the kids. This is done after they use their rulers to draw the straight vertical lines... otherwise they may cut all the way through to the other side. I demonstrate at one table with all the kids how to weave. We chant "over- under- over-under" and then discuss how we have to do the next snake opposite, "under-over-under-over". After they weave, I put a big long piece of masking tape on the back to keep the snakes from falling out. Viola!
K- Tissue Paper Collage Kites: Yes, this project comes with a song! Thanks to Mary Poppins (which most of my students had never seen), we were inspired to create this kite project. The kids loooved singing (nod to our music teacher) and even though my sister has told me I have a terrible singing voice, the kids loved that I sang and made dance moves to go along with it. After we sang, we sat down to create with background music of course! The kids gifted these to Dad, their teacher or someone they love/ appreciate in their lives.
FIRST GRADE
1- Mother's Day/ Love Flowers: Who doesn't love a project that has a personal touch (pun intended!). I love how creative they get adding things like bees and clouds.... so smart they are!
1- Pete the Cat Valentines:
1- Grandma Moses Winter Scenes: Exploring Tints and Shades
2- Personality Penguins: Inspired by the book, Tacky the Penguin, students showcased their personality by creating a shirt for their penguin. Students loved that we added snow (glue and shaving cream...with sparkle!) under the feet of the penguin!
2- Rainbow Rocketships & Lines: This unit incorporated so many wonderful art elements and principles. So we started by using our geometry skills to build a rocket and puzzle shapes together. We then discussed lines and all the different types of lines that existed. The following week we discussed color and reviewed the colors of the rainbow (roygbiv) and I quizzed them on how we get secondary colors as we went along.
2- Romare Bearden City Collage:
2- Jim Dine Hearts: Oil pastel painting that focuses on warm and cool colors.
2- Van Gogh Sunflowers: In this unit we discuss overlapping and how to create the illusion.
2- Clay Fish: I think this was a favorite of my second graders... but who doesn't love clay and paint mess?!