February art happenings - spread the LOVE!

Just like many other incredible art teachers out there, I enjoy using the theme of love to drive our art learning during the month of February. I try to squeeze in as many projects as I can with as many grade levels as possible. I like to refer to it as "heartwork month." If you'd like to see more pictures, please check out my Instagram - artwithmrskim to the right of this page! 

PRE-K:

My littlest friends - the PreK peeps, enjoyed weaving/wrapping (I'm still not sure how to refer to this process!) on cardboard hearts using small pieces of yarn. Fine motor skills practice and perseverance really came into play when we made these. Before class, I pre-cut the 5" hearts and made six notches around the edge of each one (boy, I used my art muscles!). I also cut 3 pieces of yarn per student in small lengths. Two classes used paint stix prior to the yarn work, however if you don't have them or are short on time, the cardboard looks great on its own in combination with the yarn! When finished, I added holes with a hole punch and tied on some string to make them into necklaces. We also spent some time working with construction paper crayons and paint to make a Jim Dine inspired heart to celebrate the season. 

KINDERGARTEN:

Kindergartners made a multi-media piece of artwork that included drawing, painting, and cutting with the final element being a yarn-bombed heart (I've been calling pipe cleaners, "fuzzy wire" these days). Another class had a bit more time so they also got to cut hearts using art magic! What a fun way to sneak in symmetry and help the kids build confidence. 

2nd GRADE:

2nd graders learned about the artist, Robert Indiana - who happens to come from my home state, go Hoosiers! We had been working in clay previously to this assignment so drawing in three dimensions was a great way to explore perspective and build upon our learning of working in the 3d realm - plus, they had a lot of fun! On Valentine's Day the kids made origami hearts using this video. We will continue exploring sculpture over the next few weeks, I can't wait! 

3rd GRADE:

3rd graders were tasked with making a graphic cube inspired by Robert Indiana's work. They designed each letter to make graphic statements across the paper. Some even challenged themselves by drawing the letters three-dimensionally. Many artists chose to use the iconic word, LOVE, but the assignment was open-ended and they were able to choose other positive words with four letters like, WISH, HOPE, LUCK, COOL just to name a few. Some of the lucky kids, like Emre and Lily, have names with four letters and chose to use their names :) 

Kindergarten Nevelson Sculptures

This lesson is one of my perennial favorites - found-object assemblages with Louise Nevelson. What a fun time Kindergartners had stacking, arranging and building their sculptures. The lesson does require a bit of prep for the teacher, but it's quite worthwhile. I put together trays of scrap cardboard pieces, woodsie shapes, popsicle sticks, clothespins (large and tiny found at the Dollar Tree), cardboard egg containers and itty bitty pencils that have been collected over time. The cardboard base for each child measured at around 8x11. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed! The final touch was the drippy gold tempera paint.......I think if Louise had walked into our classroom, she would have been proud!

Autumnal Leaves by Kindergarten

What a beautiful and sophisticated combination of drawing, painting and collage - all achieved by my favorite people to teach - the Kindergartners!!! 

Day One:

The first step in this multi-media project was for each kinder to draw a large leaf on 11"x 14" paper - before class, I pre-drew a spine vertically down the middle of each paper to help students achieve the right size. Then I showed them how to draw two big rainbows above the spine to create the edges of the leaf. They set about adding ribs as they chose and tried to keep track of how many they drew on each side to make them symmetrical as leaves are in nature. Everything was traced in Sharpie marker and then they used unwrapped crayons to add texture to the leaf.

Day Two:
I gave the kids magenta, orange and yellow tempera cakes and allowed them to paint freely after a quick demonstration on proper brush care and painting etiquette.

Day Three:

We began working on the backgrounds for the leaves. Each student received a piece of 12"x 16" piece of art paper and we talked about creating movement in our artwork - specifically, using spirals and dashes. I referenced Vincent van Gogh's, Starry Night. The kids used autumnal colored paint sticks to make a variety of spirals and dashes. Then they cut out their leaf from the previous week and used regular white glue to affix it to their background paper. 

Day Four:

I pre-cut three different types of leaves for the kids - a combination of die cuts from the office and my own scissor work. Students were shown how to take one of each each and use a glue stick to affix them anywhere to the composition. They used black crayons on top of these three leaves to create texture and emphasis. The crowning jewel here is gold tempera paint which I passed out at the end of class - the kids went bananas over it!!!! I allowed them to use the gold to their heart's content :) 

May.....inside the Big Green Room

Kindergarten - Flower Pots for Mom 

Make a still-life with a flower pot and at least three flowers.

Add patterns to the pot using overlapping paper strips to mimic weaving.

   

1st grade - Hot Air Balloons (over India)

Make choices when developing my mixed-media composition.

Paint my own sky and include at least two hot air balloons with patterns.

Show depth in my artwork by including different sizes of hot air balloons.

2nd grade - Teatime Still-Life 

(Inspiration from MaryMaking blog)

I can create a still-life drawing based on another culture’s customs.

I can use lines and shapes to draw realistic objects.

I can add shadows to make my work look realistic. 

3rd grade - Russian Nesting Dolls 

(inspiration from Zakka Life blog)

I can learn the history of Russian nesting (Matroyshka) dolls.

Create a drawing of five matryoshkas in descending size. 

Form a repeating pattern along my drawing. 

4th grade - Greek Columns

Learn about the different architecture of ancient Greece.

Learn the order of columns developed by Grecians.

Illustrate columns and create an interesting background for them.

   

  

5th grade - Student Choice Multicultural Art 

Students will spend the last part of the school year working on a project that interests them individually:

Egyptian Style Portrait, Landscape Mosaic (Italy), Native American Still-Life, or Russian Cityscape

April.....inside the Big Green Room

  

Kindergarten - Collage Butterflies and Pinch Pots 

I can create a collage in the style of artist & author, Eric Carle.

I can use modeling and pinching skills to form a pinch pot.  

I can explain some differences between Play-doh and clay.

1st grade - Elephants of India 

I can learn about art from another culture different from my own.

I can create an artwork inspired by the elephants of India.

I can use shapes and different lines to capture a profile, zoomed-in view of an elephant.

I can incorporate a color scheme into my artwork. 

(Inspiration from MaryMaking blog)

2nd grade - Teatime Still-Life 

I can create a still-life drawing based on another culture’s customs.

I can use lines and shapes to draw realistic objects.

I can add shadows to make my work look realistic. 

3rd grade - Japanese Scrolls 

I can create an artwork in the style of Japanese artists.

I can focus on a small area of an imagined space for the focal point of my work.

I can use several types of art mediums to complete my scroll design. 

4th grade - Origami Cubes 

I can create an origami cube using specific folds.

I can understand that small gains are accomplishments.

I can accept that origami is a very complex and specific art form.

I can distinguish the difference between 2-D and 3-D forms. 

5th grade - Student Choice 

Students will spend the last part of the school year working on a project that interests them individually - the teacher will provide several choices - mediums will include sculpture, drawing, painting and weaving.

March.....inside the Big Green Room

Kindergarten - Awesome Initials

I can create a multi-media artwork that shows the initial of my first name and fills the space.

I can create interest in my art by adding a collage element.

I can work like a graphic designer when working on my initial design.

(Inspiration and photo borrowed from Kuvis and Crafts blog)

1st grade - Butterfly Field

I can create at least five flowers and color them in solidly using oil pastels.

I can use symmetry in order to draw a butterfly.

I can learn the difference between 2-D and 3-D artwork.

2nd grade - Chinese Lanterns

I can build a lantern from cut paper.

I can learn about the country, China, and the lantern festival which takes place on the last day of the New Year celebration.

(Inspiration and photo borrowed from For the Love of Art blog)

3rd grade - Aboriginal Dot Paintings

I can make a painting using the repetition of dots, creating unity in my work.

Learn about the Aboriginal people of Australia.

4th grade - Clay Cacti

I can form a pot from clay and create succulent plants using various hand-building methods 

and clay processing techniques.

I can add surface design to my clay pot in style of painted pottery from Mexico.

5th grade - Face Pots

I can create a face jug using my own design decisions.

I can use modeling and clay processing techniques when building my face jug. 

February......inside the Big Green Room

Kindergarten - Nevelson Assemblages - I can create a sculpture using found materials. I can talk about Louise Nevelson’s sculptures and think about their meaning. I can create unity in my work by painting my sculpture one color in the style of Nevelson.

*I am adapting this lesson from my wonderful colleague Mrs. Knight's Smartest Artists.*

1st grade - Street Scenes (featuring printmaking) - I can create a piece of art that incorporates stamping techniques. I can fill the space of my composition and use a variety of media to make it. I can draw several different types of automobiles to incorporate into my mixed-media artwork.

2nd grade - Relief Sculpture - I can apply color concepts to make lots of new colors on my relief sculpture. I can learn the differences between 2-d and 3-d artwork. I can talk about the positive and negative space found in my sculpture. I can show different line directions in my work. I can talk about how improvisation became important while I stacked and balanced the pieces of my sculpture. I can use my imagination to develop a story or meaning for my individual sculpture.

3rd grade - Clay Cupcakes - I can create a ceramic cupcake using hand-building methods, clay processing techniques, and surface design. I can use my personal experiences to influence how my cupcake will look.

4th grade - Surreal Rooms - I can demonstrate through drawing what perspective is. I can explain how artists using perspective to create depth in their work. I can draw details that make my room personal.

I can learn about surrealism and decide if I want to make that a part of my artwork based on a personal choice. 

5th grade - Two-Point Perspective - I can explain that two-point perspective achieves depth on a flat surface. I can learn the technical process for creating depth using my drawing skills.

Currently......inside the Big Green Room

*I am adapting this lesson from Deep Space Sparkle for use with my students this year at SDE.*

Kindergarten - Cool Snowpeople - I can distinguish the cool colors and how they are related to winter.

I can fill the space of my paper with lots of torn shapes to create visual texture. I can use an understanding of spatial relationships to paint/draw my own snowman. 

1st grade - Hot Chocolate Still-Life - I can demonstrate an understanding of 3-D forms through use of lines while drawing a cup of hot chocolate. I can discuss the difference between light and dark colors and explain how they are made.  I can use repetitive patterns in my work to create visual interest and rhythm.

2nd grade - Gyotaku Mono-prints - I can demonstrate how to create a mono-print. I can use collage techniques to embellish my work. I can learn about the Japanese art form known as Gyotaku. I can discuss the positive and negative spaces of my work. I can sign my artwork. 

*I am adapting this lesson from Mrs. Knight's Smartest Artists for use with my students this year at SDE*

*This photo is borrowed from her website until I take photos of student work.*

3rd grade - Shape Mosaics - I can create a collograph printing plate using a variety of shapes that I cut out from a variety of materials.I can learn about the art making technique known as mosaic. I can describe the difference between geometric and organic shapes. 

*I have adapted this lesson from Mrs. Knight's Smartest Artists and have used it with my students at SDE for a few years now with very positive results*

4th grade - Architecture Prints - I can make a set of prints and describe what it means to “reduce” a plate.

I can create an architectural drawing using lines/shapes. I can describe the positive and negative space in my work. I can learn about and be inspired by the contemporary artist, James Gulliver Hancock. 

5th grade - Radial Design Prints - I can learn about the reduction printmaking process and make a series of prints using this technique. I can sign and number my prints to form a series. I can create radial balance and unity in my work by using repetition. I can explain through words, what radial balance means.