Space in Space!

What is space?
The answers of course began with stars, planets, and aliens. Then we discussed what the word space means in art. That if can be positive and negative and that it can be the creation of depth and distance.
The students began by tracing their shoes at the bottom of the paper and their own hands at the top of the paper. They used a little teamwork to help with the hand they write with.  Then they drew themselves as astronauts smaller connecting the hands and feet as if they are reaching forward.  They used their knowledge of the planets from 2nd grade science to add planets, space shuttles, and details to their space suits.  They colored the astronaut and planets with crayons and watercolor for outerspace.  I have been trying to use up supplies that I may not want to pack in SPLOST remodel next summer and even though I let them use the glitter freely it seem to replenish itself!

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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!

Printmaking!

In 4th and 5th grade students learned about printmaking.  They loved the MOMA website that shows different printing techniques step by step http://www.moma.org/interactives/projects/2001/whatisaprint/flash.html. After sketching designs in their sketchbooks students "etched" with pencil onto Styrofoam printing plates. The next class students made a series of four prints and learned how to sign, title, and label a series. It's a quick lesson, but it's a great opportunity to introduce new tools and art terms.

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. 

The look of LOVE

I've been on a modern art kick this year and I love to teach the kids about art that I want to learn more about too. I saw a friend of mine posing in front of Robert Indiana's love sculpture and in my research I found this great lesson from http://www.useyourcolouredpencils.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/love.html. We looked at different sculptures and prints of the Love artwork and Indiana's recent 2008 artwork Star of Hope.  We discussed other words with a positive message we could use.  I already had square paper and taught the students how to make, as they called it, "fancy" block letters.