Kinetic Art Pulleys

I saw this lesson at the blog  Buggy & Buddy. It was called Gliding Robot Craft. 4th graders took their knowledge of simple machines to use the Engineering Design Process and make an art pulley. The only requirement is that you design a subject that would have movement.

I introduced the students to kinetic art from Calder to modern artist creating moving waves and walking wind machines. How else could you use simple machines to make art?

 Tape down 2 straw pieces, one yard of string to feed down through the straws, and tie a bead to each end. then hang is up and pull down and out!

Doodle for Google Contest

This contest is open to grades K-12. Get all the kids involved! Check out the website Doodle for Google for rules and entry forms.

You can turn them into me by Wed. November 30th and I'll be happy to mail them.  Just remember there is a parent signature required to enter and pay attention to the theme!

Rousseau Inspired Collage

1st graders are studying the art of French artist, Henri Rousseau. We're focusing on Surprised! Storm in a Forest, 1891.  1st graders have been learning about the weather cycle and weather instrument in math and science.

The first day we printed textures on 6 different papers. On the second day we looked more closely at the painting and thought about how Rousseau's use of weather influenced the meaning of the scene. We watched a great video explaining the painting, then painted the top half of our paper gray with silver streaks of rain and white lightning.

The next class we discussed how Rousseau used the news, books, museums, and gardens to study plant and animals and get ideas for his subjects.  Rousseau wasn't a popular artist in his time and was often made fun of by other artist and critics. How would that make you feel? Why did he keep painting?
 Then we got to start collaging with our beautiful stamped papers starting with the trees and leaves in the background.
Next...the tiger! Stay tuned...