Paper Tile Mosaics

Paper mosaics are a great way to revisit patterns and develop more complex designs. I like to connect this lesson with mandalas or Art from Ancient times.

Turtle oh lovely Turtle

Inspired by Aboriginal art work and the universal appeal of the mandala image students create their own collage turtle. This three part project is perfect to connect to classroom language arts themes and support district standards and cultural curriculum. Hand outs, discussion and art prints are an important element in the presentation of this project.

Part I: Using pre-printed mandalas students create the shell of their turtle using ccolor pencils, metallic color pencils and crayons . Review the color wheel and use of complimentary colors and or warm and cool colors color with a purpose

Part II: Provide an assortment of printmaking shapes and a limited choice of paint colors (connect to Aboriginal art work) students create a background for their turtle.

Part III: Students create a body and attach the turtle to the printed background. Finishing with markers and color pencils for details.

November December 2011 Red Rectangular Robots

This collage project reinforces color and shape recognition while building on spacial relationships; top, middle and bottom. Perfect for Kindergarten and 1st grade students, can be expanded to provide more of challenge older students. (These art pieces were created by Kinders).

Part I: Pre cut red rectangles and squares, students create a basic "human" robot form. One head at the top, body in the middle, two arms out of the sides of the body (not the head) two legs located below the main body.

Part II: Using color pencils, stickers and additonal colors students add addtional details to their robots. What does your creation do, does it have special powers or skills. If time permits students can make a pet for their art robot.

Eye Spy with My Little Eye

Students grades Kinder-3rd were given the opportunity to explore nature using their artist's eye. They drew and painted, cats, snakes, bats, and birds.

Recycle Robots

This 6 session class was designed to give students grades 3-6 a chance to design and create their own Recycle Robot. First we did a sketchbook and collected ideas about what a robot is or can be. Students brought in items for the project such as plastic bottles and food containers, corks, wire, cardboard tubes, buttons, lids...and we created a junkyard. With adult supervision they used hot glue to assemble their creations. The robots were spray painted silver/chrome.

Check out the work of Clinton Bailey for further inspiration

Giraffe-Giraffe

This  4 part project involves direct drawing, cutting, gluing, painting, and print making as well as collage techniques and coloring.

Giraffe-Giraffe connects to the art work of primitive painter Henri Rousseau as well as classroom themes of animals and imagination.

Part I: How to draw a Giraffe head

Part II: Blue skies and white clouds (color mixing and values)

Part III: Cut out the head and neck and add pattern/design

Part IV: Putting it all together.


Here is the art blog that I found the base for this lesson thanks, Georgetown Elementary
http://josettebrouwer.edublogs.org/2011/01/15/second-grade-giraffes/comment-page-1/#comment-631

Sunset sky

Inspired by the color wheel this 2 part projects connects to several art standards and can be designed to support numerous classroom themes.

Part I: I can paint the sky-using watercolors to create a sunset sky

Part I: Silhouettes, landscape at sunset-torn black paper arrange to create a dessert landscape. Scissors used for details after the basic forms are created.

Bear with me

Fourth Graders love this direct drawing project because it is fun and flexible while allowing for lots of creative expression.

This is a two part project that can be directed to connect to language arts and skill building. Because it involves a direct drawing element, all students have the same tools to feel successful and then they are free to develop their own personal expression through, color, details and background. I use white glue on black or dark brown paper, but first have students practice on sketch paper with pencils, working on ear placement and facial proportions. Have students put their name on the back of the black paper before they start drawing with glue.  Allow at least 48 hours for glue to dry. Add color, patterns and details with chalk pastels and set with fixative.