American Symbols

The Kindergarten students have been looking at American Symbols- this is a classroom standard that I agreed to work into my plans over the next few weeks.  So, we drew one of 4 symbols (Flag, Eagle, Statue of Liberty or Liberty Bell).  I provided both color and outline images for students to see, to help in this process. We traced our drawings with sharpies-I think tracing the lines helps cement them in the students' heads, as lines to stay inside/around. I have no proof, but have just noticed that when the littles trace, they tend to paint a bit more carefully. After painting those using appropriate color schemes, we drew a mini-self portrait, which was cut out and attached into the picture.  I taught them how to draw stars, and after some practice, they used silver sharpies to draw stars around their painting, as a picture frame.  Our focus artist was Romare Bearden, and his work "Roots".  While we did not delve into the deeper issues within his work, we did discuss Freedom, and symbols which stand for it.  I think it was a great attempt by my students to paint in a more realistic way. 

Torn Paper People Olympics



Her people are in the pool because she did not leave room for an audience.  Guess this is where direction following comes in?  Or, maybe it's a synchronised even.



I have a project that is my absolute favorite to break out.  It is the torn paper collage.  During Olympic season, I love to declare the Torn Paper People Olympics.  We really sieze the opportunity to talk about action, and detail.  I find that while the students would rely on pencils and scissors, in this instance, not allowing them forces the students to think more creatively, and we get some really fun pictures.  Due to my desire to work increasingly with the classroom teachers, I did this project with 2nd grade , and a bit earlier in the school year than I typically would because it fit in with what they are tackling in "Common Core".  The athlete performing a trick is themself, in order to work in the idea of self-portrait.  On the last day, I gave them sharpies to add any tiny details, and we used erasers to stamp the crowd.  As a writing connection, I am having my students write the commentary for their trick. This is where the classroom teachers are helping me. 

Read Me week

Only this student could manage to look dignified. 

Love the personality in this one.

The puff paint is a fun trick. 

Unlike a lot of teachers, because of the numbers at my school, we are able to run a 3 day specials rotation, one hour per class.  So, I typically finish my 9 weeks of mandated curriculum far before the other art teachers in MNPS.  This week is "Read Me" week, and since we're wrapping up our other projects, I decided to cut loose and have a little fun with the kiddos.  With the kindergarten students, I reviewed basic self- portraiture, along with some cutting, gluing, and direction following skills by Cat in the Hatifying our art projects.  The kids were delighted, especially with the whiskers, and it was a great way to integrate reading.  I had each student write their name, along with the phrase "in the hat" and they were chuckling away.   The second graders did a very simple project based on "The Lorax"- a cut landscape type background, giving me the opportunity to review vocabulary such as background, overlapping, and distance.  We cut out a small, medium and large tree trunk, striped it with white chalk, and arranged them in the picture to show space.  The fun was trying out the puffy paint recipe that's been floating around pinterest (equal parts glue and shaving cream, along with some food coloring).  We used the puff paint for our "Truffula Puffs".