ART ROOM NEWSLETTERS
KINDERGARTEN
September - October 2017
Kindergarten students began the year as previous years, by exploring geometric shapes: we put shapes in categories, traced them, drew them freehand, and learned how to cut shapes to build a picture. We are preparing to use shape tools in our next project which will be a Choo Choo Train. Students will develop the ability to make their own shape choices to build their train with precut rectangles.
We will finalize the project with watercolor painting for puffs of smoke.
November - December 2017
Students continued to create art with a focus on identifying, tracing and cutting and gluing geometric shapes to prepare for our next two projects which will be a sailboat, and a shark. In the process, we are learning art room routines, and responsibilities. we have covered the sink area, sweeping, moving the striped trash can to each table, caring for and returning tools, The sailboat picture will incorporate shapes, wide brush painting, illustrating near and far space with size change, and description of texture. The shark picture will focus on cutting skills to produce a wavy line, the triangle shape, and stamping techniques as a foundation to block printing in upper grades. We will begin to look at and interpret paintings by American artists who paint water and boats: Winslow Homer and French artist Claude Monet.
Students also observed live flamingos and learned how to roll clay and make a swirl to create a clay flamingo for our spring art show "Island Dreams". We poked holes for legs, and glazed them pink or orange. We painted wooden skewers for legs, and applied eyes with a marker.
January 2018
Students began building painting experiences with a focus on painting tools, painting shapes and lines, and painting from nature. We looked at a real pine branch to learn how to imitate nature using a sponge brush for the branch and a wide bristle brush for pine needles. We then used a tiny paint brush to create a cardinal with a triangle body and a triangle tail, or a side view of a cardinal shaped like a banana! We drew legs and applied sticky eyes to give them personality.
February 2018
Kindergarten students learned how to make art for others and explored how Hallmark makes cards to create our own Valentine for a loved one. In this project, students had open choice with materials and interpretation. We used the heart symbol to learn about the concept of symmetry.
Students also viewed pictures of the northern lights on our projector and spent time discussing our observations. We used chalk to create sky colors in wavy patterns, and colored pencil to create snow and pine trees. Our pine trees followed the same principle of space as the sailboat project with large triangles and small triangles.
March 2018
Kindergarten students became "curators" to help label and hang their sailboats and shark pictures for the spring art show "Island Dreams". We also labeled our flamingos.
Students were excited to work in collaboration to create a paper mache jellyfish. We talked about what collaboration means, how to take turns listening and talking in a group, and how to share responsibilities in a group. First we applied slimy glue with newspaper over a balloon in several layers. When dried, we formed groups to string beads and buttons, cut ribbons, and curl pipe cleaners to use as tentacles.
April - May 2018
Students will assist in taking down their art work, organize it, reflect on our projects, and take their art work home. Students will also explore paper manipulation tools such as hole punchers, crimpers, stampers, and crazy cut scissors to create a paper collage. We will look at the paper collage artist Henri Matisse for inspiration. Student will also explore and experiment with water colors.
September - October 2017
Kindergarten students began the year as previous years, by exploring geometric shapes: we put shapes in categories, traced them, drew them freehand, and learned how to cut shapes to build a picture. We are preparing to use shape tools in our next project which will be a Choo Choo Train. Students will develop the ability to make their own shape choices to build their train with precut rectangles.
We will finalize the project with watercolor painting for puffs of smoke.
November - December 2017
Students continued to create art with a focus on identifying, tracing and cutting and gluing geometric shapes to prepare for our next two projects which will be a sailboat, and a shark. In the process, we are learning art room routines, and responsibilities. we have covered the sink area, sweeping, moving the striped trash can to each table, caring for and returning tools, The sailboat picture will incorporate shapes, wide brush painting, illustrating near and far space with size change, and description of texture. The shark picture will focus on cutting skills to produce a wavy line, the triangle shape, and stamping techniques as a foundation to block printing in upper grades. We will begin to look at and interpret paintings by American artists who paint water and boats: Winslow Homer and French artist Claude Monet.
Students also observed live flamingos and learned how to roll clay and make a swirl to create a clay flamingo for our spring art show "Island Dreams". We poked holes for legs, and glazed them pink or orange. We painted wooden skewers for legs, and applied eyes with a marker.
January 2018
Students began building painting experiences with a focus on painting tools, painting shapes and lines, and painting from nature. We looked at a real pine branch to learn how to imitate nature using a sponge brush for the branch and a wide bristle brush for pine needles. We then used a tiny paint brush to create a cardinal with a triangle body and a triangle tail, or a side view of a cardinal shaped like a banana! We drew legs and applied sticky eyes to give them personality.
February 2018
Kindergarten students learned how to make art for others and explored how Hallmark makes cards to create our own Valentine for a loved one. In this project, students had open choice with materials and interpretation. We used the heart symbol to learn about the concept of symmetry.
Students also viewed pictures of the northern lights on our projector and spent time discussing our observations. We used chalk to create sky colors in wavy patterns, and colored pencil to create snow and pine trees. Our pine trees followed the same principle of space as the sailboat project with large triangles and small triangles.
March 2018
Kindergarten students became "curators" to help label and hang their sailboats and shark pictures for the spring art show "Island Dreams". We also labeled our flamingos.
Students were excited to work in collaboration to create a paper mache jellyfish. We talked about what collaboration means, how to take turns listening and talking in a group, and how to share responsibilities in a group. First we applied slimy glue with newspaper over a balloon in several layers. When dried, we formed groups to string beads and buttons, cut ribbons, and curl pipe cleaners to use as tentacles.
April - May 2018
Students will assist in taking down their art work, organize it, reflect on our projects, and take their art work home. Students will also explore paper manipulation tools such as hole punchers, crimpers, stampers, and crazy cut scissors to create a paper collage. We will look at the paper collage artist Henri Matisse for inspiration. Student will also explore and experiment with water colors.
1ST GRADE
September - October 2017
First graders learned the importance of LINE in art. We explored all kinds of lines through video, art images, visuals and books. Our first project, creating a bookmark with a variety of marker types, helped me observe students and gather information about learning styles. We compared lines in a variety of visual art representations.
Our next project focused on color mixing with primaries to make secondary colors. We explored with transparent primary color paddles and spinning tops to reinforce the color mixing concept. We drew a large circle, and incporated math principles to divide the circle into 6 even pieces. We then applied red, blue and yellow paint in every other section leaving an empty section in between painted sections. We mixed paint in the empty sections by using the colors on each side. Once dried, we drew black lines across the sections and cut out or color wheel. We decided to use them as beach balls in our spring art show "Island Dreams".
November 2017
Students started the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Tree project with a painted a water scene using blue and white streaked paint on large blue paper. We then painted textured palm tree bark on paper, cut into strips, and applied to our water scene. To paint the palm leaves, we explored tinting and shading green with yellow, white and blue. We added a sun with paint, and practiced drawing our name with block or bubble letters. Once we built confidence, we cut out letters out of colored paper, and applied to the palm tree. This project provided many opportunities to build skills in art through planning, collaboration, sharing, care and responsibility with a variety of tools, and decision making.
December 2017
Students were very excited to begin their gingerbread painting. We first gathered to talk about candy shapes and colors, and look at gingerbread creations created by others. Students then used handouts, our projector, and our chromebook to research architectural elements such as a roof, door, and window shapes. We painted snow on the ground and sky with sponges and brushes, cut and glued a gingerbread house, and began to apply white paint to create architectural elements. We used our color tinting knowledge to make light colors for candy, and began painting a variety of shapes and patterns on our gingerbread house. For a final touch, we added silver glitter to parts of our painting for icicles.
January 2018
First grade students learned how to use their hands as tools to shape, pinch and pull clay into a turtle! We used a ball of clay to form a small bowl, and pinch/pull to form a head and tail. We then added four small pieces for flippers and legs. Students chose to draw designs on the turtle back, and then used a variety of green and brown glazes. I am so proud of my students for their efforts! We enjoyed watching baby turtles hatch and make their first run to the ocean.
February 2018
Students learned how to make art for others and explored how Hallmark makes cards to create our own Valentine for a loved one. In this project, students had open choice with materials and interpretation. We used the heart symbol to learn about the concept of symmetry.
We also began our Funky Flamingos project which began with tracing a large flamingo, and painting with orange or pink watercolor. We then used textured rollers with tempera paint to roll a pattern over our flamingo. Once that dried, we splattered tempera paint. We added a marker design, and selected from an array of texture to apply to our flamingos (feathers, yarn, stickers, buttons, pom poms, tissue). Finally, we selected a googly eye to make our flamingos come to life!
March 2018
Students spent the month of March as "curators" organizing, labeling, and hanging their flamingos, beach balls, chicka chicka boom boom trees, and clay turtles. With three 1st grade classes, that is about 240 pieces!
April - May 2018
First grade students will end the year by exploring water color painting techniques, and categorizing warm and cool colors, with inspiration from the waterlily paintings of french artist Claude Monet.
2ND GRADE
September - October 2017
Students jumped right in to learning about self portraits by using mirrors, looking at a history of self portraits, and beginning sketches. Students worked hard with a growth mindset to practice drawing the self portrait before making the final piece, going over it with a marker, and coloring with colored pencils. I gave the students Art Stix and Twistables which they were very excited to use! After drawing and coloring, students cut out the self portrait, retraced it on black paper, and glued both to a bright background. This project was called "Me and My Shadow".
Students also learned about radial symmetry, combining math principles and art. We watched a Prezi presentation on symmetry and found many examples in nature and man made items that show radial symmetry. We built a simple shape bank, and used metallic markers on black paper to illustrate radial symmetry. We hung them in the hallway, and many students were fascinated with them!
November - December 2017
Students were inspired by the book Snowmen at Night by C. Buehner and the award winning silent film The Snowman featuring animated drawings by Raymond Briggs, for their snowman painted with sponge brushes. We practiced drawing ideas for hats, ties, skirts, vests, and accessories before applying with Art Stix colored pencils. This year, some of our students' snowmen wore headsets and held cell phones!
Students also chose their own ocean theme for a clay project. We reviewed clay tools and techniques before making our clay pieces. Students chose sand dollars, clams, conch shells, and starfish and selected their own color choices of glaze.
December - January 2016
To reinforce radial symmetry, students created a poinsettia using red, pink or peach tempera paint, green paint for leaves, and glitter for accent. They looked festive in the hallways!
February 2018
Students will be learning about the art of Jim Dine who is famous for making sculptures and paintings of hearts :) We will learn painting and drawing techniques, and open exploration of painting and drawing media to create our own personalized hearts.
March 2018
Students combined science and art to create large jellyfish. We used classroom chromebooks to research jellyfish through National Geographic Kids during art, and drew 10 to 12 ideas on practice paper. We selected our favorites, and drew them with heavy crayon on tag board in bright colors. We then applied watercolor paint over the crayon jellyfish. We decided to accent bio luminescence with glitter glue. To frame our paintings, we glued them to a bright color of construction paper.
Students organized, labelled and hung their art work, acting as "Curators" for the upcoming spring art show "Island Dreams".
April - May
Students will learn the art of paper weaving which combines pattern and math principles. After meeting our learning goals, we will experiment with Garage Band to create music so that we can play it while painting like Jackson Pollock who made drip painting famous in the 1950s with his active painting techniques. We will take large swaths of cloth outdoors, kick off our shoes, roll up our pants, put on paintshirts, load the ketchup bottles with tempera washable paint, turn on the music we created, and paint like "Action Jackson".
3RD GRADE
October - November 2018
Third grade students began the year with a whimsical project "Pets on Parade". We first selected a dog or cat from a wide variety of paper copies. We created a folder to contain our ideas, and began planning costumes and materials needed. We cut paper pieces for our costumes to transfer to material or paper. We then pieced the costume onto the pet, cut arms and legs if needed, and glued them to construction paper. This project created a lot of conversation in the hallway, and a lot of laughter!
December 2018
Our next project focused on an oceanscape with acrylic paint. Students first explored the type of ocean animal they wanted to represent, and practiced drawing. Next, they painted water with blues and purples, sand, coral and sea plants. Students then painted their chosen theme, and once it dried, we added glitter glue to small portions of the painting. The paintings will be a beautiful addition to the "Island Dreams" art show in April.
Students will soon begin to use a ruler and compass to create a grid and circles like the ones you see in Kandinsky's famous circles painting. We will draw first, and paint with watercolor. This project will cover the learning target of using a variety of art room tools.
January - February 2018
Students selected between tikis, pineapples or Hawaiian flowers for their clay project and watched a Prezi presentation on for ideas and inspiration. The tikis and flowers involved similar processes of rolling clay and pressing tools for surface design. The pineapples required more hand forming but involved surface design as well.
March 2018
Students explored land formations and used their knowledge of foreground, middle ground and background combined with aerial perspective (colors in foreground are brighter, colors in background are lighter) to create fiber landscapes from books of interior design samples. We added stones, fences and trees. The project required divergent thinking to create layered land forms using distance and color. They were stunning!
Students also labeled, organized and hung their art show pieces as Curators of the school Art Show.
April 2018
Students learned about weaving from a Prezi that included the history of weaving. We strung our boards and selected colorful yarn and beads to make patterns in our weavings. This will conclude our learning targets, so the students will spend the rest of the year with creative choice.
4TH GRADE
September - October 2017
To begin the school year, 4th grade students used prior and newly acquired skills to draw and design a three dimensional optical illusion box using permanent markers of all colors and types. Students were asked to keep a planning log to guide their work. The box with lid was assembled after design. We learned about visual observation and tricks artists use to change the illusion of space. We also learned how the eye sees images with depth and color.
November 2017
Students created the illusion of a 3D cylinder form in 2D by creating their own pop art Campbell's soup can with their own brand of soup. Students were challenged to draw everything on a slight curve to create the illusion of a soup can. Their ideas were beautiful, colorful, and very creative!
Students also learned about the genre of Still Life with the use of acrylic paint on a mini painting with wooden easel. We learned about the artist Vincent Van Gogh, and viewed his famous Still Life With Sunflowers, which we discovered recently sold for $39 million. Ironically, he only sold one painting as a living artist. We observed, compared and interpreted details of a variety of still life examples before beginning our mini painting. We first divided the background to wall and table, and selected contrasting colors for both. We practiced drawing vases before drawing on our canvas and painting with tiny brushes. We added and mixed a streak of white paint along one side of the vase to show light and to give the vase realistic form. We mixed a variety of greens for stems and painted flowers.
Students learned to write an artist statement by describing, analyzing, interpreting and evaluating a piece of their art work. This writing component of art is a new addition to the curriculum and although quite a challenge, students worked hard to write and revise their statements.
December 2017
Fourth graders observed sand castles in a presentation and practiced using clay tools to roll, cut, join, and measure to create surface design to prepare them for the Clay Sand Castle project. With confidence, students designed their own mini castle with cylinder forms that included a roof top, steps up the side, windows, and doors. We made choices with glaze and shell, rock or glass glob adornments to finish our sand castles. This project qualified as a STEAM project and our principal tweeted pictures of them!
January 2018
Students combined math and color theory to create their acrylic Value Gems during January. We first measured and cut cardboard corners, and used a ruler to draw lines to resemble a cut gem with numbered sections to follow a painting pattern of light to dark. We selected from 6 colors, and collaborated at color tables together to paint the gems by adding white or black to the color. Again, the final pieces gave the illusion of light and shadow to make a 2D piece of art work appear 3D. Students were excited to take them home and give as a Valentine gift.
February 2018
Students selected the medium for their next project under the theme of "Island Dreams". One class chose to create large decorated sunglasses and draw pictures of the ocean in each lens with colored pencils. Another class chose to draw a beach scene with waves and palm trees, and added flip flops to their composition. A third class chose to create paper mache surf boards. For this class, we collaborated in groups with a paper plate, tape and scissors to create a surf board prototype to paper mache. Next, students created their own surf board and covered it in paper mache before painting a design with bright colors.
March 2018
Students located, organized, labeled and hung their art pieces for the upcoming April art show "Island Dreams".
April 2018 Students finished their Artist Statements and voted on a long list of projects that they suggested. The top three projects include Animation using our Library's ipads, Acrylic Painting on Canvas, and a clay project of choice. The animation is going well, and all students are highly motivated and energized! I am excited to see how their projects turn out.
5th Grade
September - October 2017
Fifth grade students reviewed objectives for the year along with specific learning targets in the new art curriculum.
Our first art project focused on creating a 3D mask with a cut milk carton covered in paper mache and painted/adorned. Before beginning, we viewed a presentation on the history of masks and the cultures that use them. We planned our ideas on paper to guide the creating process. The competed pieces showed a variety of interpretation and were very different in shape, color and design!
November - December 2017
Students studied the art of Keith Harring, and created mini wire sculptures of people wrapped in bright colored duct tape. We placed the figures around the school in standing, sitting, leaning, leaping, and balancing positions.
Students chose their focus of creation under the ocean theme, and practiced for a day forming, cutting, joining, and using clay tools to build confidence before beginning. Once completed, students carefully glazed the pieces with a variety of glazes and brush sizes.
January - February 2018
Students were introduced to block printing through videos and presentations of the block printing process that creates a series of prints. Students drew multiple ideas for block printing under the theme of "Island Dreams" and selected their best piece to draw on a piece of 3"x4" paper. Once the drawing was complete, the paper was taped to a foam block and redrawn to press lines intothe foam block. The block was then inked with a brayer and stamped onto precut colored paper. Students created a series of prints, and numbered and signed their prints.
March 2018
Students began curating the art show by locating, organizing, labeling and hanging their art work for the upcoming April art show "Island Dreams".
April - May 2018
Students will work in groups to collaborate on a 5th Grade Legacy Project in art. We used a mind map for ideas, watched some amazing videos about legacy and teamwork, and began creating some very original works of art.
September - October 2017
First graders learned the importance of LINE in art. We explored all kinds of lines through video, art images, visuals and books. Our first project, creating a bookmark with a variety of marker types, helped me observe students and gather information about learning styles. We compared lines in a variety of visual art representations.
Our next project focused on color mixing with primaries to make secondary colors. We explored with transparent primary color paddles and spinning tops to reinforce the color mixing concept. We drew a large circle, and incporated math principles to divide the circle into 6 even pieces. We then applied red, blue and yellow paint in every other section leaving an empty section in between painted sections. We mixed paint in the empty sections by using the colors on each side. Once dried, we drew black lines across the sections and cut out or color wheel. We decided to use them as beach balls in our spring art show "Island Dreams".
November 2017
Students started the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Tree project with a painted a water scene using blue and white streaked paint on large blue paper. We then painted textured palm tree bark on paper, cut into strips, and applied to our water scene. To paint the palm leaves, we explored tinting and shading green with yellow, white and blue. We added a sun with paint, and practiced drawing our name with block or bubble letters. Once we built confidence, we cut out letters out of colored paper, and applied to the palm tree. This project provided many opportunities to build skills in art through planning, collaboration, sharing, care and responsibility with a variety of tools, and decision making.
December 2017
Students were very excited to begin their gingerbread painting. We first gathered to talk about candy shapes and colors, and look at gingerbread creations created by others. Students then used handouts, our projector, and our chromebook to research architectural elements such as a roof, door, and window shapes. We painted snow on the ground and sky with sponges and brushes, cut and glued a gingerbread house, and began to apply white paint to create architectural elements. We used our color tinting knowledge to make light colors for candy, and began painting a variety of shapes and patterns on our gingerbread house. For a final touch, we added silver glitter to parts of our painting for icicles.
January 2018
First grade students learned how to use their hands as tools to shape, pinch and pull clay into a turtle! We used a ball of clay to form a small bowl, and pinch/pull to form a head and tail. We then added four small pieces for flippers and legs. Students chose to draw designs on the turtle back, and then used a variety of green and brown glazes. I am so proud of my students for their efforts! We enjoyed watching baby turtles hatch and make their first run to the ocean.
February 2018
Students learned how to make art for others and explored how Hallmark makes cards to create our own Valentine for a loved one. In this project, students had open choice with materials and interpretation. We used the heart symbol to learn about the concept of symmetry.
We also began our Funky Flamingos project which began with tracing a large flamingo, and painting with orange or pink watercolor. We then used textured rollers with tempera paint to roll a pattern over our flamingo. Once that dried, we splattered tempera paint. We added a marker design, and selected from an array of texture to apply to our flamingos (feathers, yarn, stickers, buttons, pom poms, tissue). Finally, we selected a googly eye to make our flamingos come to life!
March 2018
Students spent the month of March as "curators" organizing, labeling, and hanging their flamingos, beach balls, chicka chicka boom boom trees, and clay turtles. With three 1st grade classes, that is about 240 pieces!
April - May 2018
First grade students will end the year by exploring water color painting techniques, and categorizing warm and cool colors, with inspiration from the waterlily paintings of french artist Claude Monet.
2ND GRADE
September - October 2017
Students jumped right in to learning about self portraits by using mirrors, looking at a history of self portraits, and beginning sketches. Students worked hard with a growth mindset to practice drawing the self portrait before making the final piece, going over it with a marker, and coloring with colored pencils. I gave the students Art Stix and Twistables which they were very excited to use! After drawing and coloring, students cut out the self portrait, retraced it on black paper, and glued both to a bright background. This project was called "Me and My Shadow".
Students also learned about radial symmetry, combining math principles and art. We watched a Prezi presentation on symmetry and found many examples in nature and man made items that show radial symmetry. We built a simple shape bank, and used metallic markers on black paper to illustrate radial symmetry. We hung them in the hallway, and many students were fascinated with them!
November - December 2017
Students were inspired by the book Snowmen at Night by C. Buehner and the award winning silent film The Snowman featuring animated drawings by Raymond Briggs, for their snowman painted with sponge brushes. We practiced drawing ideas for hats, ties, skirts, vests, and accessories before applying with Art Stix colored pencils. This year, some of our students' snowmen wore headsets and held cell phones!
Students also chose their own ocean theme for a clay project. We reviewed clay tools and techniques before making our clay pieces. Students chose sand dollars, clams, conch shells, and starfish and selected their own color choices of glaze.
December - January 2016
To reinforce radial symmetry, students created a poinsettia using red, pink or peach tempera paint, green paint for leaves, and glitter for accent. They looked festive in the hallways!
February 2018
Students will be learning about the art of Jim Dine who is famous for making sculptures and paintings of hearts :) We will learn painting and drawing techniques, and open exploration of painting and drawing media to create our own personalized hearts.
March 2018
Students combined science and art to create large jellyfish. We used classroom chromebooks to research jellyfish through National Geographic Kids during art, and drew 10 to 12 ideas on practice paper. We selected our favorites, and drew them with heavy crayon on tag board in bright colors. We then applied watercolor paint over the crayon jellyfish. We decided to accent bio luminescence with glitter glue. To frame our paintings, we glued them to a bright color of construction paper.
Students organized, labelled and hung their art work, acting as "Curators" for the upcoming spring art show "Island Dreams".
April - May
Students will learn the art of paper weaving which combines pattern and math principles. After meeting our learning goals, we will experiment with Garage Band to create music so that we can play it while painting like Jackson Pollock who made drip painting famous in the 1950s with his active painting techniques. We will take large swaths of cloth outdoors, kick off our shoes, roll up our pants, put on paintshirts, load the ketchup bottles with tempera washable paint, turn on the music we created, and paint like "Action Jackson".
3RD GRADE
October - November 2018
Third grade students began the year with a whimsical project "Pets on Parade". We first selected a dog or cat from a wide variety of paper copies. We created a folder to contain our ideas, and began planning costumes and materials needed. We cut paper pieces for our costumes to transfer to material or paper. We then pieced the costume onto the pet, cut arms and legs if needed, and glued them to construction paper. This project created a lot of conversation in the hallway, and a lot of laughter!
December 2018
Our next project focused on an oceanscape with acrylic paint. Students first explored the type of ocean animal they wanted to represent, and practiced drawing. Next, they painted water with blues and purples, sand, coral and sea plants. Students then painted their chosen theme, and once it dried, we added glitter glue to small portions of the painting. The paintings will be a beautiful addition to the "Island Dreams" art show in April.
Students will soon begin to use a ruler and compass to create a grid and circles like the ones you see in Kandinsky's famous circles painting. We will draw first, and paint with watercolor. This project will cover the learning target of using a variety of art room tools.
January - February 2018
Students selected between tikis, pineapples or Hawaiian flowers for their clay project and watched a Prezi presentation on for ideas and inspiration. The tikis and flowers involved similar processes of rolling clay and pressing tools for surface design. The pineapples required more hand forming but involved surface design as well.
March 2018
Students explored land formations and used their knowledge of foreground, middle ground and background combined with aerial perspective (colors in foreground are brighter, colors in background are lighter) to create fiber landscapes from books of interior design samples. We added stones, fences and trees. The project required divergent thinking to create layered land forms using distance and color. They were stunning!
Students also labeled, organized and hung their art show pieces as Curators of the school Art Show.
April 2018
Students learned about weaving from a Prezi that included the history of weaving. We strung our boards and selected colorful yarn and beads to make patterns in our weavings. This will conclude our learning targets, so the students will spend the rest of the year with creative choice.
4TH GRADE
September - October 2017
To begin the school year, 4th grade students used prior and newly acquired skills to draw and design a three dimensional optical illusion box using permanent markers of all colors and types. Students were asked to keep a planning log to guide their work. The box with lid was assembled after design. We learned about visual observation and tricks artists use to change the illusion of space. We also learned how the eye sees images with depth and color.
November 2017
Students created the illusion of a 3D cylinder form in 2D by creating their own pop art Campbell's soup can with their own brand of soup. Students were challenged to draw everything on a slight curve to create the illusion of a soup can. Their ideas were beautiful, colorful, and very creative!
Students also learned about the genre of Still Life with the use of acrylic paint on a mini painting with wooden easel. We learned about the artist Vincent Van Gogh, and viewed his famous Still Life With Sunflowers, which we discovered recently sold for $39 million. Ironically, he only sold one painting as a living artist. We observed, compared and interpreted details of a variety of still life examples before beginning our mini painting. We first divided the background to wall and table, and selected contrasting colors for both. We practiced drawing vases before drawing on our canvas and painting with tiny brushes. We added and mixed a streak of white paint along one side of the vase to show light and to give the vase realistic form. We mixed a variety of greens for stems and painted flowers.
Students learned to write an artist statement by describing, analyzing, interpreting and evaluating a piece of their art work. This writing component of art is a new addition to the curriculum and although quite a challenge, students worked hard to write and revise their statements.
December 2017
Fourth graders observed sand castles in a presentation and practiced using clay tools to roll, cut, join, and measure to create surface design to prepare them for the Clay Sand Castle project. With confidence, students designed their own mini castle with cylinder forms that included a roof top, steps up the side, windows, and doors. We made choices with glaze and shell, rock or glass glob adornments to finish our sand castles. This project qualified as a STEAM project and our principal tweeted pictures of them!
January 2018
Students combined math and color theory to create their acrylic Value Gems during January. We first measured and cut cardboard corners, and used a ruler to draw lines to resemble a cut gem with numbered sections to follow a painting pattern of light to dark. We selected from 6 colors, and collaborated at color tables together to paint the gems by adding white or black to the color. Again, the final pieces gave the illusion of light and shadow to make a 2D piece of art work appear 3D. Students were excited to take them home and give as a Valentine gift.
February 2018
Students selected the medium for their next project under the theme of "Island Dreams". One class chose to create large decorated sunglasses and draw pictures of the ocean in each lens with colored pencils. Another class chose to draw a beach scene with waves and palm trees, and added flip flops to their composition. A third class chose to create paper mache surf boards. For this class, we collaborated in groups with a paper plate, tape and scissors to create a surf board prototype to paper mache. Next, students created their own surf board and covered it in paper mache before painting a design with bright colors.
March 2018
Students located, organized, labeled and hung their art pieces for the upcoming April art show "Island Dreams".
April 2018 Students finished their Artist Statements and voted on a long list of projects that they suggested. The top three projects include Animation using our Library's ipads, Acrylic Painting on Canvas, and a clay project of choice. The animation is going well, and all students are highly motivated and energized! I am excited to see how their projects turn out.
5th Grade
September - October 2017
Fifth grade students reviewed objectives for the year along with specific learning targets in the new art curriculum.
Our first art project focused on creating a 3D mask with a cut milk carton covered in paper mache and painted/adorned. Before beginning, we viewed a presentation on the history of masks and the cultures that use them. We planned our ideas on paper to guide the creating process. The competed pieces showed a variety of interpretation and were very different in shape, color and design!
November - December 2017
Students studied the art of Keith Harring, and created mini wire sculptures of people wrapped in bright colored duct tape. We placed the figures around the school in standing, sitting, leaning, leaping, and balancing positions.
Students chose their focus of creation under the ocean theme, and practiced for a day forming, cutting, joining, and using clay tools to build confidence before beginning. Once completed, students carefully glazed the pieces with a variety of glazes and brush sizes.
January - February 2018
Students were introduced to block printing through videos and presentations of the block printing process that creates a series of prints. Students drew multiple ideas for block printing under the theme of "Island Dreams" and selected their best piece to draw on a piece of 3"x4" paper. Once the drawing was complete, the paper was taped to a foam block and redrawn to press lines intothe foam block. The block was then inked with a brayer and stamped onto precut colored paper. Students created a series of prints, and numbered and signed their prints.
March 2018
Students began curating the art show by locating, organizing, labeling and hanging their art work for the upcoming April art show "Island Dreams".
April - May 2018
Students will work in groups to collaborate on a 5th Grade Legacy Project in art. We used a mind map for ideas, watched some amazing videos about legacy and teamwork, and began creating some very original works of art.
*****GET READY FOR*****
Creekmoor's Art Show
~~~ICE CREAM~~~
and
...........silent auction...........
Friday, May 1, 6-8:00
<><><><><><><><><><><>
Creekmoor's Art Show
~~~ICE CREAM~~~
and
...........silent auction...........
Friday, May 1, 6-8:00
<><><><><><><><><><><>
KINDERGARTEN
April - May 2015
Kindergarten skills have doubled in the past few months. I am so proud of them. We recently learned about the color wheel, and the basic color theory premise of priimary and secondary colors. Using Mouse Paint, by Ellen Walsh, we created a mouse paint pallet using tempera cakes and large brushes. We also explored using crazy cut scissors, crimpers and hole punchers and learned about the artist Henri Matisse, famous for his paper "cut-outs". We will finish the year with a water color scene that includes a Greek temple with action figures in the frieze. Inspired by the book "The Big Orange Splot", by D. Pinkwater, we will create our own dream house that includes many elements of architecture all in one picture.
January - February - March 2015
Kindergarten recently finished creating and naming 3D shapes with modelling clay. We moved from rolling clay in our palms to make a sphere to tapping the top and bottom to create a cylinder and then to tapping 4 sides to a cube, and finally pinching the edge of the cube and rolling to create a cone. Ask your child to identify these 3D shapes (also called forms) at home with simple products such as cans, boxes, etc.
Soon we will be focusing our hand/eye coordination and fine motor skills with tempera paint, watercolor paint, and paper manipulation including use of tools such as crimpers, punchers, and crazy scissors.
Artists we will discover are Claude Monet and Henri Matisse.
April - May 2015
Kindergarten skills have doubled in the past few months. I am so proud of them. We recently learned about the color wheel, and the basic color theory premise of priimary and secondary colors. Using Mouse Paint, by Ellen Walsh, we created a mouse paint pallet using tempera cakes and large brushes. We also explored using crazy cut scissors, crimpers and hole punchers and learned about the artist Henri Matisse, famous for his paper "cut-outs". We will finish the year with a water color scene that includes a Greek temple with action figures in the frieze. Inspired by the book "The Big Orange Splot", by D. Pinkwater, we will create our own dream house that includes many elements of architecture all in one picture.
January - February - March 2015
Kindergarten recently finished creating and naming 3D shapes with modelling clay. We moved from rolling clay in our palms to make a sphere to tapping the top and bottom to create a cylinder and then to tapping 4 sides to a cube, and finally pinching the edge of the cube and rolling to create a cone. Ask your child to identify these 3D shapes (also called forms) at home with simple products such as cans, boxes, etc.
Soon we will be focusing our hand/eye coordination and fine motor skills with tempera paint, watercolor paint, and paper manipulation including use of tools such as crimpers, punchers, and crazy scissors.
Artists we will discover are Claude Monet and Henri Matisse.
1ST GRADE
April - May 2015
Students created a monoprint with neon paint, and a bouquet of flowers to celebrate the coming of spring! The flowers were inspired by artist Pablo Picasso's drawings of hands holding flowers. We used everything we could find to make our flowers, including some very fancy fabric! Students will begin learning about Claude Monet, and his beautiful water lily series to create our watercolor paintings with lily pads.
January - February - March 2015
1st grade recently completed a challenging concept of creating space by changing size. We used trees in a winter landscape, large and small, to show distance and space. Students repeated "if you can draw a V, you can draw a tree" to help them create large and small trees.
In the coming months, we will be exploring watercolors, neon paint, and tempera paint, and look at Impressionist painters such as Monet and Renoir.
April - May 2015
Students created a monoprint with neon paint, and a bouquet of flowers to celebrate the coming of spring! The flowers were inspired by artist Pablo Picasso's drawings of hands holding flowers. We used everything we could find to make our flowers, including some very fancy fabric! Students will begin learning about Claude Monet, and his beautiful water lily series to create our watercolor paintings with lily pads.
January - February - March 2015
1st grade recently completed a challenging concept of creating space by changing size. We used trees in a winter landscape, large and small, to show distance and space. Students repeated "if you can draw a V, you can draw a tree" to help them create large and small trees.
In the coming months, we will be exploring watercolors, neon paint, and tempera paint, and look at Impressionist painters such as Monet and Renoir.
2ND GRADE
April - May 2015
Students amazed me with their interest in drawing koi fish. Drawing is not an easy task for some, but everyone took the "koi challenge." We used several examples, some with 4 steps, others with 7 steps. We grouped color in the categories of warm and cool with watercolor in our koi fish paintings. Students are going to finish the year with a paper collage robot.
January - February - March 2015
Second grade has been busy learning the composition concept of balance. We first explored symmetry or balance with equal parts with a snow angel painting and collage. We then explored radial symmetry using scratch art paper with a glitter ground under black to create 3 distinctly different snowflakes.
Soon we will cover art concepts such as warm and cool colors, combining multimedia, and paper collage. We will learn about famous artist Jim Dine and his "hearts" series.
Second grade is preparing to create two pieces for our May 1st Art Show and Silent Auction with a large coil pot and a t-shirt hula hoop rug.
April - May 2015
Students amazed me with their interest in drawing koi fish. Drawing is not an easy task for some, but everyone took the "koi challenge." We used several examples, some with 4 steps, others with 7 steps. We grouped color in the categories of warm and cool with watercolor in our koi fish paintings. Students are going to finish the year with a paper collage robot.
January - February - March 2015
Second grade has been busy learning the composition concept of balance. We first explored symmetry or balance with equal parts with a snow angel painting and collage. We then explored radial symmetry using scratch art paper with a glitter ground under black to create 3 distinctly different snowflakes.
Soon we will cover art concepts such as warm and cool colors, combining multimedia, and paper collage. We will learn about famous artist Jim Dine and his "hearts" series.
Second grade is preparing to create two pieces for our May 1st Art Show and Silent Auction with a large coil pot and a t-shirt hula hoop rug.
3RD GRADE
April - May 2015
Third grade recently finished painting mini still life canvases and learned how to tint and shade color. We learned about Vincent Fan Gogh's "Sunflowers" still life and Paul Cezanne's "Apples and Oranges" still life. We will be getting ready to string weaving boards and weave withg yarn in the final weeks of school.
January - February - March 2015
Students recently completed an Egyptian Mummy using hieroglyphics and modern day symbols representing our individual interests. This was an excellent opportunity to bring in artifacts (papyrus paper, ancient scarab) and show students the culture of an ancient civilization, gathering information to use in designing our own sarcophagus. We learned about King Tut, the boy ruler of Egypt and took a virutal tour of the pyramids at Giza!
Students will move to painting with acrylic and creating a weaving with yarn in the coming months.
3rd grade will also help to create a t-shirt hula hoop rug with their weaving skills for the May 1st Art Show and Silent Auction.
April - May 2015
Third grade recently finished painting mini still life canvases and learned how to tint and shade color. We learned about Vincent Fan Gogh's "Sunflowers" still life and Paul Cezanne's "Apples and Oranges" still life. We will be getting ready to string weaving boards and weave withg yarn in the final weeks of school.
January - February - March 2015
Students recently completed an Egyptian Mummy using hieroglyphics and modern day symbols representing our individual interests. This was an excellent opportunity to bring in artifacts (papyrus paper, ancient scarab) and show students the culture of an ancient civilization, gathering information to use in designing our own sarcophagus. We learned about King Tut, the boy ruler of Egypt and took a virutal tour of the pyramids at Giza!
Students will move to painting with acrylic and creating a weaving with yarn in the coming months.
3rd grade will also help to create a t-shirt hula hoop rug with their weaving skills for the May 1st Art Show and Silent Auction.
4TH GRADE
April - May 2015
Students finished painting canvases and painted a few art room stools as well! This was the highlight of the year for me, to watch groups collaborate on design and mix paint for their legacy chairs. Students are block printing on fabric and will soon learn a variety of painting techniques on 3D fish! We will be visiting the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art in April. I am thrilled to have the support of our school and PTA to help broaden cultural awareness and art history for Creekmoor students.
January - February - March 2015
Students recently completed a clay car or ice cream cone project based on 3D forms that everyone loved! The excitement in the art room could be felt and heard. We created a car and also upside down ice cream cone using spheres, cones, cubes and rectangular prisms. The finished glazed pieces turned out beautifully in the kiln! Students encouraged me to repeat this project for next year's 4th grade class.
Students also finished creating gigantic "gems" using acrylic paint on cardboard with a focus on the value of color (light to dark). These gems look like light shines on them in certain spots as students entered 6 different shades of color by adding black or white. I am excited to showcase these color value gems in our upcoming May 1st Art Show and Silent Auction.
Our next project is to paint on canvas with acrylic, mixing colors and creating values of the colors we create. We will look at artists after the turn of the 19th century who painted only for the sake of color and shape.
4th grade students will be painting chairs to be auction off in May and any other furniture we acquire in the next month. Students will also be painting silk scarves!
April - May 2015
Students finished painting canvases and painted a few art room stools as well! This was the highlight of the year for me, to watch groups collaborate on design and mix paint for their legacy chairs. Students are block printing on fabric and will soon learn a variety of painting techniques on 3D fish! We will be visiting the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art in April. I am thrilled to have the support of our school and PTA to help broaden cultural awareness and art history for Creekmoor students.
January - February - March 2015
Students recently completed a clay car or ice cream cone project based on 3D forms that everyone loved! The excitement in the art room could be felt and heard. We created a car and also upside down ice cream cone using spheres, cones, cubes and rectangular prisms. The finished glazed pieces turned out beautifully in the kiln! Students encouraged me to repeat this project for next year's 4th grade class.
Students also finished creating gigantic "gems" using acrylic paint on cardboard with a focus on the value of color (light to dark). These gems look like light shines on them in certain spots as students entered 6 different shades of color by adding black or white. I am excited to showcase these color value gems in our upcoming May 1st Art Show and Silent Auction.
Our next project is to paint on canvas with acrylic, mixing colors and creating values of the colors we create. We will look at artists after the turn of the 19th century who painted only for the sake of color and shape.
4th grade students will be painting chairs to be auction off in May and any other furniture we acquire in the next month. Students will also be painting silk scarves!