What's Going on in the Classroom: Charcoal, what a mess!

We have ventured into the messy world of charcoal! All our drawing projects so far have been using graphite. However to finish up our quarter on drawing we are using charcoal and also doing a pen and ink project (more on that later!)

Part of our curriculum asks us to deal with the idea that artists are always toeing the line between 2D and 3D. We either trying to create a 3D image on a 2D surface, or we are taking a 2D design and attempting to create a 3D piece of art. Sometimes the switch between these two ways of thinking is difficult for students. While working with charcoal, students also investigated the difference between 2D and 3D.

To start off, all students had to pick on object and do three realistic drawings of that object from different viewpoints. Realistic meaning making them look as 3D as possible. Then they had to translate those drawings into 2D designs using only shapes and positive and negative space. Here are images of those six drawings.

The next step was for students to choose their most successful 2D design of the three and draw it larger. Then the positive space was shaded in using white charcoal and the negative space was colored in using compressed black charcoal. This color scheme provides awesome contrast for a really graphic image. It was also very messy! 

1st Grade Lizard Sculptures

Whenever I get a chance to make three dimensional art with the kids and it's not clay, I get excited! I originally saw this project here, but I've also seen it in many other places on the internet and I have wanted to try it for awhile. Well we finally did it and then turned out great! The 1st grade students all made these stunning lizard sculptures!

On the first day we did some talking about lizards. The students shared what they already knew and then I had a power point presentation to talk to the kids about lizards and their habitats and what they eat etc... then each student got a piece of construction paper and decorated the whole thing with lines and shapes and patterns.

 When we picked back up again, the students had time to finish decorating their paper and then we went through step by step how to fold the paper so that each lizard had the right creases for cutting later. It took the whole class, because students really needed help with some of the folding.

On the last day, we cut our lizard papers to create a triangle for taping together. Before taping though the kids had to cut slits in the back of the lizard. These slits will give it the slinky lizard-like effect that they are looking for. Then we taped them together and the students had the rest of the class to cut out arms, legs, a head, and tongue and decorate as they saw fit. What I love is how awesome they all look hanging up, just like real lizards crawling around on the walls!