1st Grade Clay Animals

If you have not yet tried PHOTOSTORY, I highly recommend it.  It is quick, easy, and my elementary students are even able to create  nice movies.  I made this movie as a way to showcase an entire class's artwork.  We made clay animals, and while waiting for them to get fired, I taught the students how to create a 3-D environment.  Then we painted the animals, arranged them into the environment, and held a photoshoot.

Mayor's Art Show

My artists sure did shine at the Mayor's Art Show, hosted by the Frist Center. 

Kindergarten Caterpillars

I did one of those spring time favorites.  I save this for when the kids are getting antsy, and I need a crowd pleaser.  Rorschach paintings.  A great way to review color mixing and symmetry.  Then, we looked at the work of Eric Carle, and we created our own caterpillars by cutting circles, and using yarn snips for the legs and antenna. Very cute in my opinion! By the way, scholastic books has a great author interview with Eric Carle, who actually demonstrates how he made his hungry caterpillar.  The kids loved it!

Cubist/Expressionist Birds

I wanted to talk to my second graders about abstract art, and the methods artists may choose to use in order to achieve an abstract effect.  We looked at Franz Marc and Picasso and discussed how unreal color and cubism affected the art world.  Each student chose a bird from my box of bird pictures, and they were to abstract it by rearranging the parts, and using unreal color.  Here are a couple fun examples.

More Coil Pots

Mr. E said that I could not just show one coil pot.  So, I snapped a couple other pics as I pulled these lovelies from the kiln. 

Patterns can be yummy

We had a random donation to our school this year. Lots and lots of candy conversation hearts.  Knowing that they aren't the type of thing to keep around all year, but not wanting to randomly sugar up the kids, I started thinking how I could tie this in AFTER Valentines day.  The kindergarten students have been learning patterns.  We've played a pattern game on the smartboard, we've drawn and colored patterns, and we will be stamping patterns.  So, those students who turned in a finished drawing with their patterns were given a box of hearts and a paper plate.  They could eat the hearts, but only after having arranged them in some sort of pattern.  They loved the treat, and I got a chance to see which students are able to apply patterns, and which students still are struggling.  I in no way advocate handing out tons of candy, and I pride myself on NOT getting the classroom teachers upset, but once in awhile, an activity like this might just help a student cement a concept in their head.  Maybe if I'd had more candy in math class....