What's Going On in the Classroom: Clay!

Yay for clay! During 4th quarter, my room is completely transformed into a clay studio! Okay, that's only my wishful thinking. It's still the same old room, just with lots of clay dust and lots of enthusiasm for making things with clay! Students are starting out with a pinch pot and then one other small vessel either built with slabs or coils. Here is where we're at so far:

What's Going on in the Classroom: Computer Graphics Project

As promised, here is the post showing off the computer graphic skills of my students! Since this is an intro course to most of the mediums we teach at higher levels, we did a very simple project, but the kids still had so much fun with it and really used their imagination. Their assignment was to draw or paint an image that they then incorporated into a digital image that the found online (royalty free of course!) They used Adobe Photoshop to complete this assignment. Their goal was to combine their drawing with the found image as inconspicuously as possible. I have to say, even the ones that weren't very inconspicuous were still pretty cool! Check out a sampling of their work:

What's Going on in the Classroom: Applying Value and Perspective Drawing

Hope these first weeks of school have been going well! I know they've been flying by for me. I'm kinda in love with teaching high school. My husband and I moved into a new house which is much closer to the school, so my mornings aren't nearly as early as I thought they'd be. Also, the students are so creative and talented. I'm enjoying not having to always be quieting kids down.

In my foundations class, we started with a quarter on drawing. I had the students do a pre-assessment drawing which I will use for showing growth. Then we talked about value and light and how to place value (they prefer to call it shading). We have since moved into perspective and are working on a cool one-point perspective project, creating a Surreal hallway. (Thanks Patti for the idea!) More to come on that project later. Students are having a great time, and their skills are improving, it's fun to watch!

Just a quick catch up on our Photography class as well. Student's first assignment was to take pictures of the Elements of Art and Principles of Design. Then in groups, the students worked on sorting the elements and principles without knowing which one was which. We picked our favorite examples of each one and they are proudly hanging in the hallway. On to shooting filming and developing!!

Paper Weaving with Young Students

Each year, students do some sort of fiber arts project. With the older students, I do patterns inside of tabby weaving and make pouches, we also do simple sewing. However, those projects don't go very smoothly in less the students already have a foundation in weaving skills and techniques. We start in kindergarten and first grade with paper weaving. It's a cheap option and doesn't take as long as the yarn weaving. It also helps the students that still need to develop fine motor skills because they're using large strips of paper.

For first grade this year, we are combining weaving and collage-making to create a house! I originally saw this idea on one of my favorite blogs, Painted Paper! However, she originally found the idea on Pinterest.

We started by measuring and cutting our looms. I had the students use the ruler to make their lines. We did simple measuring using the width of the ruler as our guide. Then we cut the lines, making sure not to go too far! This took one class period. We went slowly and made sure everyone got it right. During the second class, we wove strips of paper into our loom and glued down the edges. This also took a whole class period because students have only done this once before in kindergarten. However, I have done this with first graders who did not do paper weaving in kindergarten and I have to tell you, it goes much faster if they have already tried it once!

During the third and fourth classes, we talked about collages and how to make them. We also looked at some examples. Then students glued their weaving to a piece of blue paper and begin collaging their house using scrap paper. I left it up to them as to what details their house would have. Let me tell you, some of those bad boys had pools and diving boards and the works! After this, the students were given paint choices as well as paint brushes and sponges. They added texture and details that they could not create with paper. The finished results are colorful and interesting and totally unique!

The Art of Ancient Africa- African Masks

Part of the fourth grade curriculum in my district, is to learn about the art of Africa. This year we did that in the form of masks. At first I thought about using paper mache, but let me tell you, that is the my least favorite of mediums. Also I had other classes working with clay at the same time and those two materials mix only with deadly consequences so I opted for paper masks.
We began the discussion with some student-led research on African art and African masks, then we discussed what the students had found. After establishing some basic facts about African art and African masks, we took a look at images of many different kids of African masks. My challenge to the students was to see what the found in common with all the masks.

As a class, we made a list of the similarities between all African masks, here is what they came up with that they all seemed to have:

- basic line designs.
- earth tones
- exaggerated facial features
- yarn/twine used for beard and facial hair
- animal and human features mixed together

Students had to choose at least two of these items to show in their interpretation of an African mask.

During the next class, I show the students how to fold and tape their paper to make a more three dimensional paper mask. For the rest of the class, they used only scissors and paper to cut out and add details of the face.

During the second class, I introduced pipe cleaners, feathers, twine and yarn, as well as paper, for the students to use to create details on their mask.

On the last day, they were able to use paint to complete the look, making sure they included two of the items from our list about what is usually seen in African masks. The results are very striking and each has a different personality and theme to it.