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!

 

 

 

 

 

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!