This fourth grade lesson is full of science connections. Organic shapes, resist, color mixing and salt absorbing water just to name a few. To begin the lesson, students viewed two leaves side-by-side on the screen and made observations like a scientist. They worked in groups comparing and contrasting the two leaves. We used crayons to draw a variety of leaves and also made sure to demonstrate space through overlapping. They were to fill the space with leaves and then the excitement began. Students used watercolor paints and experimented with mixing all kinds of colors. They learned the wet on wet technique, lifting color and adding salt to their colors.
0 Comments
Kindergarten has been working hard in art. They have been working on all kinds of skills to help with fine motor development. They have been cutting, gluing and tearing paper. They've also been learning about the elements of art; line, shape and color. Here are a few of their torn paper rainbows. They began with tracing and cutting out a circle for the middle.
Horizontal and vertical lines making rectangles and squares, and primary colors are the perfect combination for Mondrian inspired art in first grade.
Third grade learned about the difference between organic and geometric shapes through the art of Henri Matisse. They were fascinated with the idea of "painting with scissors" and were excited to start their art. Students created their own Matisse inspired collages. The predominant comment in their artist statements was that it was way different and harder cutting organic shapes compared to geometric shapes.
The Zapotec Indians of the southern Mexican State of Oaxaca are known for their folk art wood carvings. The carvings are of imaginary animals (alebrijes). The artists carry branches of a special kind of tree down from the mountains each day to use for their carving. The ideas for the alebrijes come from the imaginations and superstitions of the artists. The alebrijes are usually carved by men, and then painted with bright colors by women.
Fifth grade students made their alebrijes using air dry clay and tempera paint. You should have heard the excitement in the room when students found out they were going to use clay! Well, once again my students exceed my expectations. They have not had much exposure to clay, but they listened, watched and learned with great enthusiasm. Next they painted them with bright colors and patterns. Love them! Finally get to put our new display case to good use! Fourth grade students learned about Molas made by the Kuna of Panama. The Kuna are famous for the bright cloth panels and they are a part of the blouse worn by the women. Mola means shirt or clothing. Mola are made up of geometric designs as well as incorporating figures of sea animals, birds and flowers. Our Mola inspired art was made with brightly colored construction paper. The challange was drawing the central figure large enough for our large paper (12"x15"). Many of the sutdents incorporated symbols or images to create more of a story within their art.
First grade learned about the small city of Paracho, Mexico during Hispanic Heritage Month. Paracho is well known for the guitars produced in the city. Paracho artisans have been building guitars for several generations. We mixed the bright colors of Mexican art with making our own guitars. Students used white oil pastels for lines and then painted either warm or cool colors on their paper. They used texture scrapers to add more lines and interest to their paper. They traced their guitar on their paper, cut it out and then traded for the opposite color scheme with their classmates. They added a sound hole and strings, and then decorated with shapes and glitter. We had a lot of guitar playn' going on during class!
Second grade students observed the art of Diego Rivera and discussed how art tells a story. Students added symbols to their sombrero to tell a story about themselves. We looked at lots of sombreros too. Students were excited to make connections between the art and family/life in Mexico. Students used oil pastels and watercolor for a resist.
Third grade students learned about the folk art yarn paintings made by the Huichol in Mexico. The paintings are made by pressing yarn into warm beeswax. The paintings tell stories about the culture, history and religion of the Huichol. Students absolutely loved looking at the brightly colored yarn paintings and had great discussions about the symbols and what they might mean.
I have wanted to plan a yarn painting project for several years, but was afraid of the mess they would become if using glue! Somewhere along the way this summer, I saw the idea of using adhesive tiIes. I ran to the nearest home improvement store and purchased some linolium adhesive tiles on clearance! I cut them into 4" x 4" squares. I was worried the size would be too small for my 3rd graders, but decided much bigger would take them too long. Let's face it, I was just plain worried this was going to be too much of a challenge for my little ones that are really still like 2nd graders at the beginning of the year. I jumped in and tried it anyway. They created a simple plan the same size as their tile. They used markers and lines to look like the yarn. Once they had a plan, they went to town on recreating their plan on the tiles. They did an amazing job and most loved every minute of the project! A few were challenged by the process, but all were very proud to show off their creation in the end. The size ended up being perfect. I was just blown away by the talent and persistance of these little ones! Students reviewed primary colors and discussed the artwork of Jean Dubuffet. Students created art inspired by his art using primary colors and lines.
Fourth grade students did a review of line and how it can show movement. We also discussed symmetry in shapes. Students created a symmetrical silhouetted shape using black paper, then added lines showing movement. They were given a choice of medium to add color. They were able to use chalk pastel, oil pastel or markers with water.
I'm excited to begin a new year in art. We have an art room this year!!!!!!!! We have also expanded art to kindergarten! This is the 6th year the art program has been back in East Aurora elementary schools. We basically added a grade level each year and we are now complete!
Fifth grade has been busy working on a piece of art showing the element of art, space. They have learned about the many techniques artists use to create this illusion on a 2-dimensional piece of paper. Overlap, size, placement, value, details, shading and linear perspective are all ways we create the illusion of space. Students learned that perspective was developed by the Masters of the Renaissance and has a basis in math. In one-point perspective, parallel lines receding into space appear to go to one vanishing point. (Aligned with ELA Renaissance unit)
I was considering a project I had done my first year with fourth grade, but they struggled with the floating rectangular prisms and rope winding through them. This was their first year of art and I was still figuring out what concepts they could grasp. Our district had dropped elementary art years ago and were bringing it back a grade at a time. I knew I was in trouble, the day I used the word "overlap" in my modeling and it struck me to ask if they knew what that word meant. No one could tell me. I feared the project was doomed and I figured I would chalk it up to a learning experience for me. We got through it, they added spaceships and aliens, and in the end they were quite proud of their accomplishments. I thought this might work much better with my fifth graders who have now had art since third grade, but it lacked the creativity I was looking for. I was searching the internet for some new inspiration for a project and saw this same project with a twist. I decided to go for it... Students brainstormed a theme of anything they would like and were able to use the fifth grade laptop cart to search for images. They sketched images to use in their art. You could have heard a pin drop and this was in the weeks leading up to spring break! They were 120% engaged. I taught them the linear perspective portion of the project and they went to work adding their images. They have been enthusiastic, engaged and eager to get to work! Here are some samples from my first class that finished. My other classes are still hard at work and there are some amazing pieces of art coming down the pike! I can't wait to share all of them! Second grade listened to the story, "If I Ran the Zoo" by Dr. Seuss. The students all agreed that is very easy to draw geometric shapes like circles, triangles, ovals, etc. They also decided it is not so easy to draw people, animals, birds, etc. that are organic shapes. I told them we were going to draw our very own tizzle topped tufted Mazurka from the story. They thought that would be too hard. We looked at the bird and they noticed his head was shaped like an oval or some noticed it looked like a peanut. They could do that! Next, they noticed his beak looked like a triangle, easy! Eyes looked like ovals, feathers made the shape of triangles and stomach is a circle. Before they knew it they had their own Mazurka! I helped them understand that I was not looking to copy exactly what I saw, but it was my inspiration for my own Mazurka and encouraged them to make feathers, faces, etc. with their own twist. Next we traced our pencil lines with marker and they went to town using colored pencils. They were told to show value in their coloring and be creative with patterns and the background.
I am thrilled with how far my little ones have come this year! I stood there both proud an amazed when we were looking at famous artwork and they made observations using the language of the arts. I always start with "What can you tell me about this piece of art?" I was hearing responses like, "That painting is mostly made out of the primary colors." The next student responded, "I know what the primary colors are. They are red, yellow and blue. The artists used lots of different kinds of lines. I can see texture in the painting...it looks like that container would feel rough if I touched it." Oh, so proud!
This weaving project was designed to review the elements of line and color while introducing texture. Students enthusiastically went to work using the primary colors to draw all sorts of lines. When aren't they enthusiastic?!! They love using the playcolor tempera paint sticks. I modeled using a paper crimper to add texture to their paper and they could not contain their excitement. It was the hit of the hour! They watched me show them how to weave and then were off to try for themselves. "Over, under, over, under, over" could be heard throughout the room! Remembering to change the pattern with each row was a challenge, but most were highly successful. Second grade is also working on value. They made optical illusions with line and value. The best part of this project is that my students that work quickly can fill their page and everyone else is done when class is over. Students keep adding one shape at a time and then color it, so they are always finished!
First graders learned about the element of art value. They looked at the art of Paul Klee and discussed what they saw and his use of shapes and value. Our first project was inspired by Klee's "Senecio". Students drew a large shape which filled their paper. Next they added straight vertical and horizontal lines that appeared to go behind their shape. They thought this was the coolest thing when they saw this in their art! Next we added a variety of connected lines inside their shape. Students chose 2 colors and used value in both the background and inside the shape. After this lesson students learned that lines and the use of value can make something look 3-diminsional. They loved how their "tubes" looked like they were popping off the paper!
Yes it is spring, but we are still wrapping up with winter paintings! Most of my fourth grades will be finishing this project after spring break. We look at some famous landscapes and discuss what the artists have done to create the idea of space in their paintings. We also look for clues as to the season of the paintings. When the students get to some winter scenes, they pay close attention to the color palettes. Students are learning some new watercolor painting techniques while demonstrating space. They learned how we can block areas to keep them white (our trees) until we are ready to paint them. Students learned wet-on-wet for the sky and dry brush for the tree bark. Here are a few examples from my class that is finished.
Third grade has been having a fabulously messy time with chalk pastel! Sometimes I feel like the "Cat in the Hat". I carry all the supplies from room to room on my cart, get the students all excited, make a big mess, and then leave! We do clean up, but it can get a little crazy especially when there is no sink in the classroom.
I have done this project in the past using oil pastel and emphasized creating the illusion of a form. This year I changed the emphasis to showing space in a landscape. We discussed how overlapping, size, details, and shadows can create the illusion of space. We read "Snowmen at Night" written by Caralyn Buehner and illustrated by Mark Buehner. We discussed how the illustrator showed space in his illustrations and all the fun activities of the snowmen. We also thought about the roles of writer and illustrator. The students then brainstormed what their snowman would do at night and wrote a sentence for our "class book". Then they planned their illustration to go along with their text. Next, students learned some techniques for drawing with chalk pastels. I was thrilled with the creativity and skills of my students and they had a blast! Second grade learned that overlapping, size and value help show space in their artwork. They compared and contrasted a variety of landscapes. The landscapes included a few artists such as Bierstadt, Catlin and Remington to connect with their ELA unit, "Wild West". We also discussed collage and symmetry. Students learned to control tearing paper for their collage and students used a variety of lines to cut unique symmetrical trees.
|
Mrs. Kendell
I was a graphic designer for many years, and then decided to make the leap into art education. I taught elementary art for 8 years. Archives
May 2018
Categories
All
|