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...

                         

Kicking off another year!

Getting ready for my 13th year at CFES!  The student's always come in scoping out "what's new." This year I tried something new and painted a quote on my cabinets, Everything you can imagine is real - Picasso.
After we get settled and paint some art for the halls we'll jump right into our Square 1 Art Fundraiser.  Then we'll be using traditional art techniques, as well as STEAM so stay posted!

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!

SQUARE 1 Art Fundraiser!

K: Self-portraits

1st grade: Family Portraits

2nd grade: Self-portraits "When I grow up..."

3rd grade: Family Portraits 

4th grade: Radial Name Designs

5th grade: Choose your own theme!

Designing 3D Paper Sculptures

                

These line parks are one of my favorite projects I do with 2nd grade.  It's so simple to have strips of paper but the students love it!  We  talk about line direction and quality and i demonstrate how to create some of these in a 3D form. This year we talked more about the Engineering Design Process and discussed how the students had to add supports for balance and brackets to hold pieces without much surface area. They can all describe how you move through the park and get so excited.

These paper sculptures are by 4th and 5th graders.  I got the idea from this website, Pink Stripey Socks. They are inspired by the artist Alexander Calder.  We looked at images of his real sculptures and the students couldn't believe how big they were.  

                             

We had to use our Engineering Design Process here using the concept of symmetry and balancing the paper to stand up.

                         

5th grade OCAF Field Trip

    This is our second year partnering with OCAF , Oconee County Arts Foundation.  They are just down the road from our school! This has given us the opportunities to take quick field trips to see art in the gallery and to visit with artist.  Last week 5th grade went to see a pottery demonstration with a kick wheel and learn more about the science behind clay.  How the creation is a physical change and the firing and glazing is a chemical change.  She also told them about different elements in glazes that create interesting surfaces and colors.

Painting with Kinderarten

    I start the year teaching Kindergarten all about lines. We name them and draw them (curly, wavy, zigzag, broken, spiral...) On the next couple of days we draw caterpillars and decorate with all their new lines. Then we draw and cut out butterflies and decorate these with lines too.  The fun comes when we paint over all of these lines with watercolor. (One whole class period to paint)  I used liquid watercolor this year which is so vibrant.  They love to see the clouds in the caterpillar drawing appear like magic. We also got to talk about the science behind wax resist. 

                                         

First Day of School, The Dot

     It's hard to believe that we've already been in school for almost 6 weeks already!  We had a great start to school and now we've had a little time to run through the schedule and get used to the new 4th and 5th grade rotation, with the introduction of the STEAM Experience!
     This is my 12th year teaching art at CFES and I knew that I wanted to jump in an let the kids begin creating art! I used a Prezi to introduce our Rules to be Motivated, Respectful, and Safe in the art room. Then we read the book The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds.  It's a great story about how scary it is to get started but once you do it can open up a world of ideas.  I've referenced this story a few times already to remind students that they just need to "make a mark and see where it takes them". 
 

                                               

  In 2nd and 3rd grade they did collaborative paintings where the goal was to paint dots and circles and let them grow. (Without scribbling over someone else's art!)

4th and 5th graders decorated designs on circles (thank you frozen pizza) and 1st graders painted in their designs.  I got the idea of hanging them as mobiles from Cassie Stephens blog.  

                                             

                                             

Square 1 Art: Fine Art Fundraiser

It's time again to get great gifts for your family and support fine arts at Colham Ferry Elementary School!  Each child is bringing home an order form with their artwork on the cover and a whole sheet of stickers that are FREE.  Send in orders or even better order at Square1art.com .  Our school still gets credit for the order.  Check out what each grade made...

Kindergarten: Self-portraits

                                                           1st grade: Family Portraits

2nd grade: Self-portraits, When I grow up...

                                                                     3rd grade: Owls

                                         4th grade: Radial Name Designs (See post here)
                                                     
                                         5th grade:  Their choice of subject and materials

  

celebrate upcoming holidays with gifts that will be cherished for years to come. Purchase your child's artwork on useful keepsakes for any occasion or celebration. LAST DAY TO ORDER:10/28/2014

reminder: every order benefits your child's school

iPhone Case personalize Sports Bag personalize Waterbottle personalize

Shop now for unique and useful gifts!

Proceeds from this fundraiser support the budget for art and music at CFES.