Northern Lights

I love how this activity turned out, and as much as I hate the mess that comes along with chalk pastels, I will definitely do this one again. To begin we did a little science learning about what the northern lights actually are and how they occur.  You can find some fairly simple videos on youtube for this, I did this with fourth grade, so I thought it was an important step.  If I was doing this with younger students I might just show them images of the northern lights, and discuss where they can be seen.  This activity was done in two parts, white chalk and charcoal on grey paper for the polar bears and bright colored chalk on black paper for the lights.  So first, the lights: Students looked at images of the lights on a slide show I created, and then we discussed analogous colors, why and how they blend together so well, and how to find them on the color wheel.   Once students drew the lights we then painted trees with black tempera paint.  The second step was to create a polar bear head, and for this we also studied a photo from the internet of a polar bear to help with shape and details.  We drew with pencil first, colored with white chalk then went over the pencil with black charcoal and used out finger to blend a bit.  I found this awesome lesson here. It is one of my favorite blogs!

Mouse Paint

Students in my 2nd grade class have been learning about color theory this week.  I read to them a favorite book called Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh.  It is a great book for introducing color mixing to the little ones.  I love books like this that are short and sweet, but also fun for reading to the kids.  Last year we did an activity where the students drew the mice with payons (crayon and paint combined) They work like water color pencils, the students drew and colored 6 mice using only the primary colors, but this year I wanted to switch it up.  Since model magic comes in the primary color packs I thought this would be a fun way to get them to learn about color theory.  each student started with  red, yellow and blue Model Magic. We mixed one color at a time, first we swirled two colors like red and yellow together and set it aside.  Next we combined the rest of the red and yellow together to make a smooth orange.   We then placed the swirled colors on top of the orange to make it look like the mice were mixing the color, just like the book.  My students LOVE playing with model magic, and i love it too because it mixes so well, and is not messy to clean up! A huge plus with the little ones! Lots of fun but no fuss:) 

Snowy Day Mixed Media

Watch this video of how to draw a snowy day with just a few simple materials, feel free to substitute the oil pastels for crayons,  hope you enjoy!

Wire and Nylon Scuptures

Watch a video of how to make these wire sculptures here.

 

 

 

James Rizzi sculptures

 

Check out our display case, with these James Rizzi inspired structures and modes of transportation!!! I am obesessed! The students worked in teams to create the one air piece, one ground transportation and one building. They used construction paper, tempera paint and black sharpie to create the features of the artwork and for a base they used old boxes. 

Torn paper Christmas Trees

Students in my kindergarten class read the book "Perfect Square". I then gave them a piece of light or dark green origami paper to tear and rip just like in the book. It started as a perfect spyware but turned itself into something beautiful...in this case a Christmas tree.  We added sequins, rectangle presents that we put line patterns on, and printed snowflakes in the background with the bottoms of soda bottles! The kids had so much fun with this activity!

 

 

 

 

 

Holiday Nutcracker!

Students in my class learned the story behind the nutcracker, we also watched a very short cartoon version of it as well as reading a children's book.  We used large spools for the base, but I have also done this with a paper towel roll and it works great too! I love how they look!Watch a video of how to create these out of paper towel rolls below!

 

 

Decorative Corn

     

Tar Beach

1st Graders used their knowledge of shapes to create this beautiful piece based on the book tar Beach by Faith Ringgold.  They were read the book and then we discussed where they would like to fly to if they could go anywhere.  To start the lesson students glued a piece of 9 x 12 white paper onto a piece of 12 x 18 construction paper.  They then painted the white paper blue to look like the night sky.  Students used construction paper and some tracers if needed to create their body and clothes. They added details with markers and glued themselves to the paper.  We added dots of glue and glitter, and then they were given pre-cut squares of patterned paper to create a border.  Any excess construction paper showing was cut off.  What do you think? I think it could go in my favorite pile!

The Noisy Paint Box Lesson

                                               

After reading one of my new favorite art books, "The Noisy Paint Box" by Barb Rosenstock I couldn't help but have my second graders do their own music inspired painting.  This was new for me, I hadn't tried it before so I wasn't sure how it was going to go, but I did know that second graders are still at an age where they are not afraid to jump right in to art without the fears of perfection that haunt my older students.  So to begin I gave them each a black crayon and played some very well known classical pieces, they ranged from slow and soft to loud and exciting.  I would name them, but I found a YouTube playlist that I skipped around in to give them a variety of emotion.  I didn't get to see the names of all the pieces, but you can find the mix of classical music here. Students were on;y given one instruction, and that was to draw what they think the music looks like.  I let them use both sides of the paper and then they chose the side they liked best.  I think this was helpful because they had a chance to get used to it on the first side and try again on the other.  I then provided students with water color paint to color in the whole paper.  I think the students had a lot of fun creating these, and I had a lot of fun watching them.  I love how each interpretation looks so different, and I really am impressed with how they came out!

                                                 

African Masks

Students discussed African masks and their significance.  They also discussed symmetry, lines, patterns, color, shape and form as they created these masks.We used air dry clay, tempera paint, and then finished them with Mod Podge.  I found a great YouTube video tutorial here on how to create the masks.  We used it as a guideline, but I have student freedom to make it their own. I am so excited by the results!

National Junior Art Honor Society