Kindergarten Art Lessons

So we have been doing so fun art lessons but I am in need of making more time for updates!  Here area a few Kindergarten lessons we have done this year - Color, texture, repeating shapes, patterns and of course horses our school mascot!

1st grade Color Fish

 We packed many skills and techniques into these fish paintings!  We read a book about fish and learned how to draw different styles of fish.  The first day students drew six fish (3 large and 3 medium). Then they added a treasure chest and other ocean life.  The next day we played primary and secondary color games to review, then using only primary colors students painted the 3 largest fish with primary color and on the 3 medium fish they mixed the colors right on the paper to make secondary colors.

Then the next couple of classes we reviewed pattern got full paint trays to paint the other sea life, background and patterns.  On the last day students used oil pastels to create more patterns and details and they also used glitter to create their coins and jewels in their treasure chest. 

Words that POP!

 Keeping with my modern art theme 4th and 5th graders learned about the American Pop Artist Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997) and his comic book style of art.  We also talked about onomatopoeia (a 4th and 5th grade ELA connection).  I originally got this idea from the blog, There's a Dragon in the Art Room.  I showed the students examples if Lichtenstein's art and we discussed the ways they look like comics and the scale of his art.  Then I showed his art that focused on using words, like the painting Whaam! and we discussed how the words made us feel and other examples of words to use. I also found a clip from the 1960's Batman TV series which show the action words! After writing the block letters students began painting with primary colors.  It's amazing the variations with just using the 3 colors and black.  Another day we looked at comics with magnifying glasses, discussed Ben day dots and how to make nice dots, then kept painting.  Later we outlined the words to really POP off the paper!

   Here is a great video from CBS Sunday Morning - It is an interview with his son and is a great introduction to how Lichtenstein grew from being called America's Worst Artist to record auction sales.

Alma Thomas inspired collage

  

First graders learned about Georgia born artist and educator Alma WoodseyThomas (1891-1978). She was a pioneer for African American women in fine art. 

 Thomas is best known for her nature inspired abstract color block paintings of from the 60-70s. 

Students created torn paper collages in the style of her painting The Eclipse with an emphasis

on the colors of the rainbow.  When dry they were cut into circular shapes and look great

displayed in our new hall!